RSSPerso-Expatedness Archives
December 27, 2009
The Madness of USofA Security Overreaction
While understanding that Americans are sensitive creatures unused to risk, and sympathising with being rattled by the incompetent Nigerian cretin who failed in his terror attempt (but seems to have done a fine job in burning his inner thighs, I hope with the proper results to his privates as well insofar as reports suggest the materials were in his undies areas):
What kind of lunacy is this: New American flight rules, no getting up from seat during last hour of flight and no electronics.
No more than one carry on, including handbags. The reports from others flying into the US of A seem to confirm this hysteric over-reaction in now in place.
What the logic of this is escapes me insofar as no reports indicate any electronics were involved, the explosives (same failed method as that Jamaican sneaker-non-bomber cretin) were power sewed into his pants.... and the mere fact he did it in the past minutes of the flight seems to have fuck-all to do with methodology.
Well. I for one am cancelling my plans for a business meeting in New York. Let the fuckers come out here, damned if I am going to spend 9 hours on a flight without my laptop.
And for the US TSA: get some fucking ball you cowardly gits. All the Al Qaeda people need to do now to send America into a hysteric tizzy is to yell boo for fuck's sake.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 01:01 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
November 28, 2009
Eid Mubarek and fine memories (on a 4 yr anniversary)
I recall this series of updates well.
Lounsbury: An amusing hospital room conversation
So, afternoon my time, someone from the central office, evidently unaware of my hospitalisation – which would be natural since I never tell them anything if I can possibly avoid it as they tend to overreact and blunder about like blind gored semi-lobotomised bovines, rings me up to talk about a project. Then they ask me how I’m doing, as everyone was aware of the potential TB thing, so I say gaily, “Not bad for being in the hospital, the drugs make me quite cheery actually, although now there is talk of medical evacuation now that TB is right out, which I dislike.” This is met by nervous laughter, and the query, a bit nervous, “What do you mean by that?”
I had then the great pleasure to inform my colleague, who I don’t particularly like anyway, that they were ringing me in my hospital bed, that I was nevertheless working away there, although in fact my lungsies are haemorrhaging to some degree and the doctors are considering kicking me out of the country for emergency treatment for this annoying diversion. As an aside, it appears I may have a lung tumour or so, which is extremely inconvenient to say the least, especially with respect to timing. I’m more than slightly angry about this timing, although not sure at who.
Ah, small pleasures in life. Not being dead, making colleagues uncomfortable....
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:21 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 28, 2009
Populist Parliament proposes fines for runaway workers leaving jobs without permission
FT.com / Companies / Middle East & North Africa - Bahrain retools its labour market
A populist parliament has attempted to derail the government’s reforms on several occasions. This week, Bahrain’s labour minister quashed a law drafted by deputies that would impose a BD500 fine on “runaway workers” who leave their jobs without permission
Sorry this deserves more serious comment, but the propo is just too delicious.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:31 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
April 06, 2009
Amusing anectdote
For me that is.
Today I got a call from a friend of a friend, long located in the Gulf, in a certain Gulf city... ahem. Nameless to protect the guilty. Has been in real estate promo, popping between UK and the Gulf, all was great.
Now he's coming on vac to my end of the world, wants to know what the opportunities in my speciality region.
Suspecting the drunken sot thinks that the whole of the MENA region is just like that certain city (years and years of going there, I doubt he bloody went even to certain other states nearby), I enquired innocently as to what he was thinking. Property, investments, getting hired by a promoter in this region, because absolutely things are coming back, if less hype hype and he wants to be positioned. Yes, positioned I think was the word.
I sadly had to gently inform him of the pay scales, which rather cooled his ardour. Seemed genuinely surprised the whole MENA region is not like the Gulf.
I suppose he could have been thinking of my firm, but I have a strong sense we're driving off a cliff no matter what I do with my numbers (which suddenly are not looking so charming, and if not stomach churning quite as yet, are requiring more and more hours).
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:52 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 06, 2009
And just because I can, pondering new laptop
This is a purely self indulgent post, but I am also experimenting with new blog features.So, my trusty Thinkpad is giving signs of giving up to ghost.
Well, not precisely, it's really not bad, but the battery is quite shot, the many Gigs are fullish, and it is showing signs of slows.
This is somewhat giving me an excuse to think about a new road laptop, and retire this one to home duties, for which it should be fine.
I have to say, I love Thinkpads (this is a first edition Lenovo Thinkpad, and has been fine, given my kind of wear and tear and constant usage). I think I am going for another one. The challenge is lining one up. The pain in the ass with Thinkpads is that they're not seen in show rooms too often, and the most convenient way to order if via internet. However, given my loco, that's a bloody nightmare since some cretin in customs will smack me with an outrageous payment, and given shipping, cost doubles. Pain in the ass. Of course there are local buys, but I don't like or trust the bastards, esp. as they sell screwed up furrin keyboards.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:05 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
November 22, 2008
Crisis Economics & MENA
Now that my obsession, the global financial crisis is migrating to home turf, I shall try to have some comment now and again. Unfortunately, professional limitations shall rather hinder my ability to be as entertaining as usual. Otherwise, I put E100 that Citi is toast.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 22, 2008
Well bollocks
My old favourite place in Amman Jordan has gotten itself in a spot of trouble; I can't recall visiting Books during Ramadan during the day in me days, but I can guess however the trendy-hip clientèle may have done one too many drunken wanders in the neighbourhood.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:31 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 11, 2008
Boring comments
Below, a silly complaint, but on a personal itemI no longer find remotely amusing:
Continue reading "Boring comments"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:31 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 26, 2008
Investment & Whinging On
I've just attended a terribly tedious diplo gathering, which reminded me again of why I avoid expat dominated events like death - notably I learn little to nothing of real value to me business and I have to listen to hours of uninformed lazy whinging on about why X, Y or Z project has failed due to some perceived injustice, etc. since the diplos only really here from the whingers (as of course is natural, since there's no need to talk to them otherwise, unless one is scamming for visa favours or something similar).
In this particular occasion I had to listen to one bloody sr. diplo at this long and tedious damned cocktail run on and on about how horribly declining investment and entrepreneurial endeavour are at present, and then going on to cite a series of ventures which were - in my knowledge in investing here in the region - unwise to say the least. Above all as the examples all seemed to involve said diplo's linguistically challenged fellow-countrymen falling in love with a certain touristic city or two, and getting it into their scatterbrained heads they could just pick up and open up shop, live the life as back across the ocean, and .... well tediously unrealistic bollocks if you ask me. Bloody diplo went on and on about how he didn't see why or how the Continentals were coming, and all these failures were just sign that it was something of a sham or a special deal being cut.... I kept me mouth shut, since I am making money and the only thought I had was "your mates are fucking clueless gits."
This tedious bollocks only highlighted to me, that there's not a damned emerging market in the world where one can pop in, not know the language, and think one can set up with say the first bastard who wants to do business with you. Sadly, these people go back and rather than being clever and insightful, simply whinge on about how awful emerging markets are.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:38 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 15, 2008
Dollar, Dollar Down we go.
Goddamned dollar. Off the fucking cliff. The US is becoming an Argentina, it really bloody is.
Should have never signed up on a dollar contract.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:05 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
July 12, 2008
Strange Contacts
Working out on emerging markets finance sometimes gets one the most peculiar contacts. This past Friday I received a most peculiar phone call from a young fellow national chick who apparently got it into her head to marry a Maghrebine fellow.
The scatterbrained young lady has run into an issue with getting her, their, money out as the fine Maghreb countries have capital controls, but they need some dinero at "home" to get .... well something related to the visa process or whatnot. And surprisingly her husband was shocked, shocked, that he could not wire his capital as foreseen. Why the Exchange Controls Bureau was just so bloody unreasonable.
Continue reading "Strange Contacts"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:54 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
July 06, 2008
Question for my Continental Europeans
A quick question for those readers knowledgeable of Fransa Lenova Vendors. I need to acquire some material for me Thinkpad, and the one vendor I know in Paris has utterly pissed me off. Anyone familiar with reputable vendor I can pop into or contact in process of me next biz trippy.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:40 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
July 05, 2008
On multi regional offices
First, yesterday a fine scheme of my was utterly bollixed up because I forgot about the US national holiday. I had called a special meeting and was all set to conference in the head IT Chimpanzee to berate him for his usual idiocies... and after all arrived I realized, ah 4 July. Damned NY is closed.
This was more a preemptive action since my offices are behind in closing the books to report in, as I have discovered by experienced new assistant who was supposed to be coordinating had a rather different idea than when inquiring about skills in Excel and the particular accounting package.... Apparently when she said "skilled in" and "had used" she really meant "aware there is such a software package on the market, and had observed others in the bloated overdone Administration I hired her from using Excel under her 'guidance.'"
Well, my fault, should have run a test, but hiring on the fly so as not to have hiccups produces hiccups. Still numbers looking good. I laugh in the face of global financial crises.... Well not really.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:40 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
June 23, 2008
Always check the bona fides
Somewhat awkward when, for purely professional reasons, mistakes a leading Polisario chica for a professional women. The subsequent investment convo just doesn't have the same feeling. Although the whole diaphanous Sahraoui wrap and high heels with underlying miniskirt setup just makes these convos hard to keep on track. Well, that and the sheer pointlessness of the contracts pitch.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:09 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
February 16, 2008
Changing Image of Middle East North Africa MENA Business
An odd encounter I had on a TGV in Europe (somewhere on the continent..., kha) highlighted a change one is seeing in re MENA and emerging markets business, and I think it worthwhile sharing.
Continue reading "Changing Image of Middle East North Africa MENA Business"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 18, 2007
Sorry bloody underwater
This sort of rubbish is keeping me busy, so afraid I may not surface until apres New Years. Trying to close a major financing deal and the fucking credit mess has made this a literal nightmare. Dumb fuck clients should have move sooner, we would have closed say in July, but no, typical emerging markets pissing and moaning about trivia (do you really care about my expenses if I bring you a nice financing package literally 100 times larger than your damned country has ever done in your sector? Yes, apparently pissing and moaning over a trivialities, habitude du souq....)
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
December 14, 2007
Two years encore
A small note recalling another 2 yr anniversary of little more than perso importance.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:48 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
November 18, 2007
Two years ago
A bit of nostalgia. two years ago this very weekend I had the fine occasion to begin that small bit of cancer unpleasantness.
Continue reading "Two years ago"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
September 03, 2007
On Shopping
Purely a personal observation on my Paris trip so far.
Continue reading "On Shopping"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:56 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
July 22, 2007
MENA Business, the personal thermometer
A personal benchmark for the degree to which Gulf money is getting too hot, the number of approaches, unsolicited, that I am getting from Gulf institutions wishing to build out North African investment business.
Continue reading "MENA Business, the personal thermometer"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:36 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Encore Vivant, Scans Edition
A small personal note for the interested.
Continue reading "Encore Vivant, Scans Edition"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:44 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
May 30, 2007
I fear for your children
So said a female collegue - from another firm - after spending a week working with me on a deal.
Apparently I can be somewhat intense.
Continue reading "I fear for your children"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:00 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
May 10, 2007
Unique Pleasures
They are a rare thing. Therefore I shall count them.
Continue reading "Unique Pleasures"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:43 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
April 29, 2007
Annoying Side Effects, Tedium
Have to piss off again for more scans shortly. Last set of exams apparently found something funny. Which is not amusing. Bloody tiresome. Bit of something possibly impinging on the spinal cord.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 01:30 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
April 27, 2007
The Horror, The Horror
I watch in horror as my dollar denominated salary gets smaller and smaller in real terms. It only moderately helps me feel consoled that I am long liability wise in dollars and so income balanced on Euro is going to look better.
Otherwise, I was bemused to find in reading Bahrain blogs that I missed some to do earlier this week. Well, conference rooms.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:32 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
April 17, 2007
Reflexions on Casablanca
It remains difficult to get business done here, the city being on edge, Moroccans and Casaouine being most unused to this kind of mindless violence. The anger is palpable across social classes, it seems to me, but frankly I have a lot of work to get done in a short time, so one must allow that my impressions are superficial, for all that they seem to match Ibn Kafka's.
Further, what everyone is saying - and I hear this from people who rarely speak well of the government, so I am inclined to say it is not mere government agitprop although that is present - is the population is actively helping the security forces.
Nevertheless, I am largely in conference rooms working on producing some financing documentation, which is rather different from being out on the street - that is doing a reporters job. Something facile whanking by bloggers oft forgets.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
March 12, 2007
Bombings, Bombings...
Well, looks like I am in for tightened security with the Maghreb getting its own indigenous self-proclaimed al Qaeda, to go along with the Machreq.
And the Americans continue to fiddle....
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:08 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2007
Presents
What do you give a good friend who's just become the governor of a central bank?
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:40 PM | Comments (13) | TrackBack
January 27, 2007
Fizzy Water
I believe I may have gone overboard in stocking my favourite fizzy water. USD 200 nearly, but I now shall be spared searching for the just-the-right-sized bottle for at least two months.
When one lives in a world of inexplicable supply disruptions, one has hoarding behaviour induced.
Of course, I also did the same in finding a vast stock of my favourite grapefruit juice, unsugared as is the evil custom prevalent in these lands which can't distinguish "nectar of juice" and actual juice.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:57 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
January 25, 2007
On Coordination, Clothing & Colour
A rather trivial, and personal observation.
Continue reading "On Coordination, Clothing & Colour"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:55 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 05, 2006
Smart Phone & PDA
I have grown sick of both my current phone and my current PDA. Perhaps some of the nerds who read this may have ideas as to business oriented (meaning able to edit easily MS Office docies, sync up with Outlook on contacts and calenders -yes I am sure there are better choices out there, but that does me fuck all of good) PDA or potentially Smart Phones. Blackberry is not an option I may add.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:53 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
December 02, 2006
Caftan
I am presently trapped in hell. A fashion show for Caftans that a woman has sucked me into (what one does to get a night in bed with dark girls). Thank god for the WiFi and blogging fad, such that I can pretend....
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:53 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
November 12, 2006
And why paranoia
Just learned a friend of mine who got herself in a spot of hot water by speaking rather too openly about sensitive subjects, in the intersection of her business and politics, was declared persona non grata and has had to leave on short notice.
Paranoia is healthy.
Continue reading "And why paranoia"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:42 PM | Comments (8) | TrackBack
October 28, 2006
Valueless perso commentary
I am told that even when I dress down, I look like I am going to an investment committee meeting. This came when I mocked some nerdlish Indian Expat type w family on outing today, who looked bizarrely like he was taking the family to a business meeting.
Well, at least I am stylish.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:08 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
October 24, 2006
Eid Moubarek Said
A little tardy, but I am working flat out.
However, the partners insist I go to some Eid hoopla and the woman has dressed me up in a new Eid outfit - look like a bloody Emir, although I do like the nice wool felting, so off I am.
So, Eid Moubarek Said to all - heathens, kufar, idiots and so forth.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:56 PM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
October 22, 2006
What to make of unpoverty
I have to engage in some Eid time bribery to make my JV partner and associates comfortable with my generally heathen habits, which includes coughing up some Zakat and some added bonus Zakat to make amends for said behaviours (which I shall spare the more faithful from enumerating during this holy season).
Continue reading "What to make of unpoverty"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:49 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 26, 2006
German Steel & Transaction Costs
The operation buying my new German Steel is taking far too fucking long.
First, there was the idiocy of the American correspondant that froze my funds when some semi literate bank functioniary panicked over the cash being transferred to a suspect country.... Once resolved, now I am lost in the intricate idiocies of the local bureacracy which render any transaction 30 times more complex than necessary.
It's the sort of operation that underlines the idiocy of the Stiglitz's in their ivory tower attacks on globalisation and celebration of statism.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:49 PM | Comments (17) | TrackBack
Market Demand (expanded)
Today I had confirmation of a suspcion of mine regarding my favourite Halag, haircutter.
Summertime and Khaliji tourists means more fetching young Leb Sluttish assistants and expanded "services."
I had long suspected, but today (with me first haircut since the hair came back - pleased to say roots are going dark again) had confirmation.
I shall not be able to understand the very special scalp massage that comes with my haircuts in the same way. I am not sure if I am disappointed or not, however at least I don't wear a gold and ruby pinky ring heavy enough to dislocate said finger. It is, however, apparently a useful tool, but sadly my particular scumminess requires a certain image.
Continue reading "Market Demand (expanded)"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:27 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 22, 2006
Capacity
Afraid my commentary shall be slightly restricted, I am working on several fund proposals and the wave of resignations following my firm's cretinous penny-pinching idiocy (although nicely illustrative of their complete incomprehension of the emerging markets) has rather dumped a lot of work on me.
All quite bollixed up, but I shall make a quick note on a few items shortly.
As for the Fund proposals, none involve continued employment with the Titanic, but these things take time.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:37 PM | Comments (33) | TrackBack
August 21, 2006
Schadenfreude
Pursuant to the recent note re some utterly scummy changes in compensation regional (as opposed to expat) employees, one entire office has resigned. I loved the bland "resigned to pursue other opportunities" namby pamby rot. I myself wrote a longish note on chapter and verse as to how this was a completely bollixed idea.
Meanwhile, I have been at the beach returning myself to a more fashionable colour than post-chemo fishbelly dead. However, I am forced to note that my hair is coming back in vaguely blondish, which is most disconcerting.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:37 PM | Comments (9) | TrackBack
August 16, 2006
Kind Requests not to get whacked
Embassy got around to its latest round of asking its Registered Expats to do their best not to get blown up, kidnapped or otherwise whacked for political reasons on their watch, as it is very bad for business, causes much paperwork and generally is terribly inconvenient for the diplo on duty. They note in their kind announcement that intelligence indicates that rising anti-American feeling in the region puts foreigners (they probably should have said all those tending to be confused with Americans) at risk. Bloody hell, never occured to me, that.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:54 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Guilt, Economics and Residency
Among the items that motivated my work to renew my residency was my recent launching of a fine acquisition operation, that is acquiring a new car. It has also been an opportunity to reflect on the economics of several things.
Continue reading "Guilt, Economics and Residency"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:13 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
And I was beginning to miss this sort of thing
A fine announcement regarding air travel, bloody scared rabbits will soon have people flying naked - and now it's London flights as well:
Continue reading "And I was beginning to miss this sort of thing"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:11 PM | Comments (18) | TrackBack
August 15, 2006
Redoing Residency, An Opportunity to Test Waters
I will have some extended comments on this later, but I just started redoing me residency, which had lapsed during the Great Cancer Exile. A fine time to see the impact of the "Anglo-American Israeli Aggression" Fiasco, given can't hide citizenship, emplyer's citizenship or the like on such forms.
(I've already had the experience which I will elaborate on in today's unpleasant encounters to judge the waters. I can only say from personal interest, thank God for the ceasefire.)
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:34 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 18, 2006
Transparency, FDI & Foreign Groups - Counterintuitive Observations
An amusing side note to distract from the Lebanon hysteria that is sucking us all in.
I'm presently doing research on North African financial groups for a potential new piece of business (my idiot whankers back on the other side of the Atlantic still not grasping the lack of transparency that renders any given piece of research in MENA twice as hard at minimum than in the developed world).
It has been amusing so far to find that despite all our talk in sector about how foreign groups bring best practices, better governance and more transparency, that in the Maghreb -comparing like to like, i.e. listed to listed- the locals are actually rather better about publishing their financial reports than the French groups(*). Never mind site functionalities. Not really surprising, if one knows French banks, but provides a bit of nuance to easy talk about FDI and benefits. Not, mind you, that I am against FDI and all things being equal foreign groups usually do raise standards....
Continue reading "Transparency, FDI & Foreign Groups - Counterintuitive Observations"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:49 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
May 30, 2006
American Memorial Days
Given it is too humide to breathe, some quick thoughts on my fine Memorial Day with my cretinous american cousins. One involving discussions of the Gold Standard and Middle East & North African Infrastructure.
Continue reading "American Memorial Days"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:54 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Humidity
I am recalling now one thing I had forgotten I disliked about the east coast of the USA. Summer humidity.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:39 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
May 25, 2006
Sometimes one has to hang one's head in shame
I do.
I was just having a touching base chat with my assistance back in country who kindly told me of the latest sign of really mind numbing incompetence in my firm.
They wired our office rent to the driver. Who seems to have spent it or part of it, thinking it a bonus.
Continue reading "Sometimes one has to hang one's head in shame"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:04 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
On Reading Arabic
An article from the FT Arts section had something that caught me eye:
Almost 40 years ago I learnt to read Arabic. I can no longer remember what it was like not to be able to read it and I find it difficult to imagine what the exotic squiggles might look like to someone who is incapable of interpreting them.
While not 40 years, the phrase was evocative.
One does lose context after a while. Being out of the region for the first sustained period in a long time, it's a bit queer. Rather like being a foreigner in one's own... cultural landscape.
As to the subject, pity I am not back in London, it would be a pleasure to stop by the British Museum to take this in.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:53 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
May 11, 2006
Is it an insult or merely lack of awareness
A convo I found amusing today, call from one of my silly cousins. A rather older one, who is very tedious and tends to tell long, convoluted stories or extreme right-wing conspiracy theory - I believe he was once a John Birch Society member. He's queerly fond of me, however. Perhaps because of my natural patience and politeness.
This particular call was of the same nature as the usual. However, the highlights - besides his racist diatribe covering my woman's ethnicity - were moderately amusing in the abstract.
First, I found it entertaining to hear the fellow ranting about the stupidity of the Bush Administration, as not one year ago he was telling me the insults against the President of the US' intelligence were a Commie something or other. It appears he has realised that Ibn Bush is actually a bit on the dim side and not competent. Good for him. I shall not have to listen to painfully incoherent defenses of the current US Administration.
Second, and this part amused me immensely.he ranted on about Bankers controlling the world, etc. I rather liked the incoherency (I should mention the fellow is actually quite intelligent, simply when his ideology kicks in, critical thinking seems to cease. It's interesting), as well as the fact I was the audience. Perhaps the target? Well, the man inexplicably likes me and does have some property to inherit.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:17 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
February 14, 2006
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 | Comments (28) | TrackBack
February 12, 2006
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 | Comments (3) | TrackBack
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 | Comments (5) | TrackBack
January 27, 2006
Catharses?
One of the more annoying aspects of my medical exile has been the tedious role, as Cancer Boy, to play in being the way point between the various segments of this great Anglo Saxon clan that rarely speaks to itself. The foriegn and domestic parts are all promising visits, even those who've never seen each other, including my Aunts.
This is a most unexpected and undesired side effect of the minor detour that is cancer, as I had previously rather liked their not talking to each other. Worse yet, my JV partner is being dragged into this little frenzy of multi-continental familialness sparked by one inconvenient tumour. I had managed to avoid such in my previous JVs.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:48 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
January 18, 2006
Narcotics, infrastructure and Expats: Reflexions part I (an ongoing rambling reflexion)
As it was a request, and my narcotics have finally taken away the bone-aches (which I may add are deeply unpleasant) and rendered me giddy, a reflexion on Expattedness, socialising, and infrastructure.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:48 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
October 30, 2005
Other Reflexions - On US Firms, Business and Valueing International Staff
I had the occasion with my Italian collegue to have an interesting (to people like us at least) reflective conversation about working for American firms and the value place (or not) on overseas experience.
Although it was nothing new, nor particular news indeed as I should say everyone reading my blithering on is likely aware of these things, the issue of the degree of real interest in US firms in their international staffs arose; oddly not in any way connected with my personal axe grinding or bemusement at my organisation schizophrenic approach to regional expertise, but from the Italian's experience on transfering herself to the US after a career with several large international British financial institutions with experience from London HQ right through to high level managerial experience in Asia running operations as the feranji big cheese.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:28 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
October 24, 2005
Ramadan and Bad Tempers Among The Drinking Classes
Well, still burrowing away through bloody Arabic financials for the new Fund proposal [another bloody 7 megs in the inbox this morning - this bloody well better be worth it, if these fuckers don't close or try to renege on the points....], but this past Friday I had a most surreal 'Expat' experience.
Deciding to have a few drinks before Iftaar, having a good two hours, (hmmm, already condemned for writing such a phrase) I popped by the nearby four star for some liquid happiness and to write some items up at the bar. Being a shameless bastard, I popped out my trusty thinkpaddy and started whacking away while knocking back some fine Cuban products.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:41 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
October 11, 2005
On being an western expat, priviledges and abuse thereof
As I have a pounding headache from this quarterly nonesense (reporting as transparency.... bollocks) and my stress about the bloody fiasco upcoming, a moment to reflect on a few items.
First, yesterday I had a most peculiar (okay not so peculiar but I have bloody headache presently, so I will call it most peculiar) experience.
I got a ring from a partner at the local Price Waterhouse Coopers asking me to drop by, due to a conversation he had with the director of Fund X (a fund with whom I have had some conversations, they know I am sniffing about for exits).
I rather thought this was in regards to some issue I have been researching for Fund X and some associated schemes, or in the less likely alternative, about my real job. So, I pop by before Iftaar for a chat (not far from the office, why not?), and have a pleasant enough convo but it begins to take on the feel of an interview (as in askig me about what I know about certain financial subjects).
Continue reading "On being an western expat, priviledges and abuse thereof"
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October 06, 2005
And in regards to odd coincidences
Almost slipped my mind but today in going to a meeting with one of the big swinging dicks in the fin sector today - nice meeting really but not the point - I had the occasion to be kept waiting for a nice 45 minutes in the super fab penthouse offices and observe the fauna.
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Queer Conversations
I had a most peculiar experience a few evenings ago, indeed it was unique in my experience to date in the region.
Continue reading "Queer Conversations"
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Things That Boggle: Calling the US Embassy Emergency Line for Travel Advice
Last night I was out with some of my diplo friends, including one of my American diplo amigos (he who I seduced into consuming the forbidden Castro fruit) having a perfectly fine dinner and drinks at a local Judeao-Maghrebine fish restaurant.
A very fine time, I should add, but interrupted by one of the most singularly bizarre calls one can imagine (in such contexts to be sure). Now, one first must know that here it is American practice not to have the late hours duty officer holed up in Consulate, but for him to carry a special phone linked into their system (whatever it is) to answer "duty calls" on the number supposedly reserved for Americans who have somehow gotten themselves into deep shit. Such as getting arrested for smuggling hashish or the like.
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October 03, 2005
Random Reflections on the Office
While everyone is out, I am enjoying a quiet day looking out over the hazy city reflecting on why it is time to move on.
As some may have noticed, I seriously curtailed my commentary on the lying (not necessarily a bad thing), incompetent (very bad), deluded (bad) scum who are my central management, as well as my office generally. Got a bit sensitive when I discovered someone I know reads MENA blogs (thank god she's deluded and reads about that democracy rubbish).
This aside, you may have also noticed little to no commentary on the Leb Sluts and Near Substitutes (LSNS) in the office.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:45 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
September 27, 2005
Among the mind numbing things that makes one want to drink heavily
Translating balance sheets from Arabic (with eastern style numbers) into English or French.
First, no one has yet to settle on standard accounting terms in Arabic, so every goddamned school seems to produce its own highly idiosyncratic phrasing which even though one can usually get the sense of it, is bloody goddamned irritating. As for example, I can make out that a certain word that in classical usage meant to be worn away is being used by some very special accountant for depreciation (or something like that), it's more than a bit arch to revive a classical phrase for this concept when there are more ordinary substitutes.
Second, not only is eyeballing those annoying eastern numbers irritating, but then flipping them into the column western style adds a new level of irritation. Above all as it is easy to confuse which column you're working off as even from page to page this annoying fuck isn't quite consistent.
Oh what I would not give for some dictator to impose some degree of standardization on Arabic in these senses (not that there are not dominant usages... but every little two bit Islamic school schooled semi literate git accountant seems to want to revive some dead term to show off).
Fuck it, going to get drunk. Although that motherfucking 7 am meeting tomorrow is very unsporting. 7 am, who the fuck meets at 7 am?
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Random Observations on Things Not to Do (if hosting a business meeting)
Some observations from attending a high level meet between the principals for the Fund which may (if certain wrinkles are ironed out) become my new master. All in regards to hosting such things, if you are a resto or club or the like.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:44 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
September 19, 2005
Among the dangers of long business trips & meetings
is over-indulgence in expressos.
Or so I am remembering now after a good solid 8 hours of meets, greets, and the like.
I rather feel like my entire nervous system wants to jump out of my body and I have this weird disembodied feeling. I would call this cafiene poisoning. Staggeringly hard to achieve with me given how much I normally knock back ( I am, I confess, a cafe addict, sure it will produce an ulcer soon enough, but that's what doctors are for ), but managed it today.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:35 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Arab Blood and Arab Language
While I am on the road I thought I might find a moment to share one of the more typical Arab region interactions that I have (besides the Agency one). It is what I call “Arab Blood – Arab Language” assumption.
The conversation is always structured in the same way, and oddly almost always comes from Eastern Arabs although I get it not infrequently in the Maghreb as well.
As in the case that just brought it to mind, where the airport VIP escort fellow (part of the package on this particular trip, although I confess as I get older I get more inclined to such things as a recent hissy fit I threw with my woman because she only got me second class tickets sadly and most unflatteringly demonstrated) had an accent that suggested to me he was an Egyptian immigrant (or emigrant depending on the point of view), leading me to playfully respond to him in Arabic on a question. Leaving aside the poor bastard nearly jumped out of his skin (one should admit that my highly anglo name would not suggest Arabic speaking), he was all to happy to rap with me in Arabic (and I was in the mood being surrounded at the moment by a sea of idiot monolingual fatties for whom Arabic was scary).
Getting to the point, after having a real conversation for a bit that convinced him I actually do know the language, he then asked me what my “real” origins were. For my dear Egyptian the ability to speak more than bad kitchen Arabic had to be an indication of having Arab blood. The conversation always follows a very particular patter with Eastern Arabs, insistent questions as to whether I don’t really have Palestinian, Syrian or Lebanese blood. Certainly by physical type I could be from that region, but it’s the funny presumption that one has to have the blood to learn the language passingly well that always intrigues me.
Very peculiar, not sure where it comes from. The alternate presumption that one is Muslim makes rather more sense, but rarely get that directly (although I suppose it might be partially embedded in the Levantine assumption).
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:13 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 15, 2005
Geographic ignorance
Setting up some conference stuff today for a potential attendance next month in the US of A, in some steamy southern crappy city with fat bankers.
I'm emailing the twit in New York about the detials and I get a note, copying some other potential participants, saying "Although Mr. Lounsbury has been indicating the conference is in Charleston, SC, it is in fact in Charlotte, NC. I just wanted to avoid confusion. I’m sure this was just a typo as we’ve discussed this more than a few times."
Ah. The shame. Well two bloody cities in the Carolinas both start with C. What can I say?
My reply was quite simple: "Bother, two bloody cities in the bloody Carolinas, all the bloody same to me."
Nevertheless, I was amused. In fact I always confuse the two. Might as well be the same city to me.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:26 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
September 12, 2005
On Petrol
I filled up the Lounsbury Black Secret Car recently, my it was painful.
Thankfully the German engineering, my aversion to driving, my utter hatred of local drivers, and the fact I can walk to work all lead me to only rarely fill up.
70 euro equivalents for a full tank. And this with subsidies. Although perhaps the subsidies don't apply to my particular blend.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 29, 2005
Among the things one learns at Embassy Citizen Services - or lumpy fools and marriage
There are many observations one can make after spending a morning with Embassy citizen services. One could uncharitably note the concept "service" is poorly developed, but I keep in mind normally Consular people deal with various scams and schemes to get visas by locals, and not straight forward service. Habits.
However, the one item that I retained today, having been blessed with the fine opportunity to spend the morning at Consul's office waiting to get a simple affadavit notarised (because the Civil Code system is positively mad about notarisations, and even better if done by Consuls - bloody waste but what can we say? Stupid Franco-Italian traditions), is the sheer number of lumpy and unattractive Anglo women getting married to young local lads far out of their league.
Without being entirely ungenerous, as after all looks are not everything (nor are they nothing), it's rather bloody obvious these are visa marriages. At least from the local's point of view. Painfully obvious really.
What's more peculiar is the goodly number of rather.... well, lower class lumps who are doing this (given their accent); great deal for their local lover, and I suppose these, ahem, somewhat marginal players in the domestic marriage market [I shall create the acronym, MPDMM] having taken a holiday in these sunny climes and been wooed with marginal sincerity (well lots of sincerity in regards to the visa opportunity to be sure), are taking advantage of taste and opportunity arbitrage opportunities. Certainly the country Arabs do like their women rather... differently structured.
This aside, I was also bemused that the sheer stupidity of several of these MPDMMs such as asking the Consular official to fill out the forms for her because she did not understand them. I suppose joined up sentences in her native language (i.e. English, presumably although Slurese might well be a better rendition) still present some problems.
Indeed contradicting my opening statement, the Consular officers were far too tolerant of this semi-illiterate ignorant cows in offering even the barest advice when packing them off for remedial English language courses and some training in proper decorum would have been more called for.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:37 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBack
August 23, 2005
In other matters, on joint ventures
The joint venture paper work is proceding apace. About 3 of 14 steps to registration have been solved. Remaining items include fabricating documents that the benight Third World rent seeking vampire bureaucrats have invented and exist only here, but which these Civil Code demons insist must exist globally because very obviously THE way to do things involves the most hideous intepretations of the already hideous Code Civil.
Today's success, which involved - and this is sadly the unvarnished truth - my calling on contacts so as to get a senior police official to come down from the Main office to expedite the obtaining of the Certificate of Residency, which of course is merely a certificate certifying that the information in my Residency Permit - issued by the self same government - is in fact, legal, valid and official.
This merely took a day. And 20 units of local currency for official taxes and the like.
All to obtain a document certifying that my official document certified official information that was obtained officially and officially did not contradict anything else, officially speaking.
Long live regulation. Why once we get fair trade..... everyone will be better off.... Really. And they'll have donuts too. Magicla ones.
I personally am looking forward to obtaining of the Certification of No Judicial Cases (or otherwise known as the Negative Certificate, although it is actually positive in the sense it is a negative response to a negative question), although this also requires me to obtain the self-same from my home country (where such does not exist, but I'll concoct something to dupe these little vamperous trolls - although it adds to total cost).
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:15 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 22, 2005
Gone Native
I shall flesh this out a bit later, but I thought I would note my irritation at this phrase, "gone native" being used as a slur against me in regards to when I take people to task for being ill-informed.
This came up just now in regards to the Daniel Drenzer blog discussion (see Aqoul), and I confess it grates on my nerves. An empty and stupid statement, and I fail to see the sense of it, other than as a cheap way to dismiss being called on false presumptions and the like.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:34 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
August 19, 2005
Entirely Because of Bou Aradvrak - Belly Dancing, Orientalism, Academic Cant and Pure Bemusement [And some added thoughts on Business Enviroment Data and Obsessive Charting]
I wish to share with my 'Aqoul compadres, cohorts, or whatever the bloody hell they are, the following:
Belly Dancing Resource of some kind and in particular, the Bellydancers and Harem Girls -- A[n] Historical/Cheesecake Gallery.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:00 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
It is so nice they care, but really.... (Jordan)
Well, very nicely Embassy back in Amman, who still can not quite get it through their thick heads that I am no longer resident there (although I do stop in of course, business), sent me another kind note asking me not to get assasinated or otherwise blown up on their watch.
Continue reading "It is so nice they care, but really.... (Jordan)"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:04 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
August 10, 2005
It's Overseas Residents Season
And this fine city is filling up with our dear European resident Maghrebines, on vac to visit family, engage in modest levels of contraband product sales, pretend they are more successful than they really are, and generally behave in most peculiar manners while their friends, cousins and the like try to milk them for every Euro they can.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:20 PM | Comments (6) | TrackBack
August 09, 2005
In yet other matters, I assure my minders I am not planning to get blown up
Amusingly once more local Embassy has sent us its kind note to the effect of "please be mindful and don't get blown to bits on our watch, the paperwork is a killer and it looks bad."
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In Other Observations
I continue to be annoyed at the fact that every bloody time a friend who has been out of touch writes me (or even my bloody family), they always (and seriously) manage to include some line implying (or state) they think I work for some intelligence agency or another. Just happened again and I feel moved to rant.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:35 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
A bit of silence on my part
Afraid my negotiations with the Fund, being serious, are taking up my time. Shall continue to do so for several weeks until closing or break off.
Continue reading "A bit of silence on my part"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:39 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
August 06, 2005
Expat Scum & Boston, options
Well the results of today's discussion in re the Fund are that I am to go to Boston to start, and if all closes and moves properly, will be lead on opening Maghrebine affaires office.
Hmmmm, do this or not? Some self indulgent reflection.
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Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:32 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
August 02, 2005
Big Move Forward
Well, the word is in. The Fund has agreed I am more valuable in region than in the US of A. Major move forward in my negotiations for a bright new future.
Continue reading "Big Move Forward"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:11 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
July 13, 2005
Banks, Banks and Drooling Morons
I am pleased to announce that the general strike in the banking sector has, in the interest of protecting the opporessed wage slave comrade bankers from (gasp) working an extra half hour, succeeded. The whinging cowards that run this country have backed down in the spectre of unionised bankers in bad pinstripe suits taking to the barricades over the burning issue of wage slavery (yes, wage slavery) in the sector, as suggested by the evil plot to re-arrange working hours.
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July 11, 2005
Various items of little import
First, having just fielded a call from the other side of the great Atlantic, I am irritated at the monolingual morons bizarre habit of making up their own names for dfis here, usually via bad translation, and then creating an acronym in English for it. I'm getting ask (as an example not the actual question) about the NEDB and blah blah, and my first reaction is "what the fuck is this person talking about, there is no NEDB bank." After some probing, I discover it is actually the BNDE. What the bloody hell was the point in translating the name and then making up your own bloody acronym off of it, that no one the fuck else uses.
Idiots.
Second, friend in town, excellent fellow, known for years. American convert to Islam, right-headed fellow how never fell into what we often refer to as "convertitus" (or being more Muslim than your average Mohammed). He's travelling around this fine country, came into town to visit his corrupt dissolute scummy expat amigo (me of course). Late. Explanation was properly amusing, but also reflects on current events. Being a conniesseur of fine mosques, he had been making rounds in the prior city, made the mistake of rapping with some bearded types (perfectly innocent by his account, which I trust given his experience) when our local Mukhaberat came round to inquire as to the cut of his jib. Four hours of detension and questioning followed for all involved. He was properly put off by the experience, but after rapping with him yesterday I pointed out the emerging network issues in re London - doubtless local authorities are under much pressure to look for strange Euro looking convert types. (Actually he's rather whitebread and preppish, none the of hippy wearing oddball "genuinely Islamic" pastiche wearing silliness one sometimes sees, nor Ikhouane-esque Wahhabite style clothing). Close call, although lacked much deep entertainment value like my last detension - what's a detension if you don't have a gun pointed at you, I say.
I should, when I get back, speak to thoughts on the North African connexions and the like.
Added, for Pratike: there is no Morocco-UK animosity. Moroccan or wider Maghrebine involvement would be entirely on the al-Qaedah thesis of Dar al-Islam at war with the Dar al-Harb / infidels, and in particular the Iraq invasion angle. You know, imperialist dogs and all that.
I should note that Moroccans I know (and I confess I know more than my share) have been universally horrified. For them, brought back rather bad memories of their Casablanca bombings.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 01:18 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
July 04, 2005
Reflexions on Outsourcing - via an apartment
Let me utilise some personal whinging to illustrate why outsourcing is not easily done, nor likely to be the great threat that frightened Western commentators make it out to be. Quality of delivery and poor developing world understanding of more developed markets expectations.
In this case, it happens to be me, the Development Market, and the various people, but essentially the woman who I outsourced all preparations to. This proved not to be a disaster but to have come in well-under expectations due to a mismatch in conception about what "quality materials," "moderate goals" and similar phrases thought to be well understood.
Now the result is not atrocious, it is minimally acceptable although it is the sort of thing I shall, when persons enter, have to do some plausible deniability sort of dancing so that no one thinks that I actually had a hand in it, directly. Ex-my smug fobbing off of all the things I did not want to do. Outsourcing.
Rather more complex an operation than one thinks.
I note, by the way, as a real datapoint that while outsourced services from Europe are a huge potential market, we have seen a number of initial entrants pick up stakes for reasona effectively similar to why on the next apartment finishing round, I shall take full control.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 29, 2005
The Big News of the Day
Ladies and Gentlemen, slobbering morons and other cretins who read this lovely blog rather than doing what they should be doing, and thus help justify my cretinous behaviour: I am proud to bring to you the great news of the day. News that has set off a wave of polemics across the country (well not of the day, but relatively recent).
Continue reading "The Big News of the Day"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:12 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Why I do what I do.
Interesting point of reflexion emerged on my post on policy and funding last night. I shall extend commentary but for the moment, this post merely allows you to opine.
Well, before letting you opine, if I ever even bother, let me reproduce the comment that provoked this:
Your final paragraph is the key one.
First, all else being equal in theory developing markets ought to offer excess returns in pretty much every sector because they are not as efficient/sophisticated as developed markets. I made a sneering remark earlier about exporting best practices to Nigerian breweries. "Best practices" which ignore local political/cultural/social conditions are unworkable practices or, worse, practices that, when implemented, achieve some completely unintended effect. But you don't need to implement best practices to beat your competition in developing markets, just better practices. To do that, you must understand how and why things work they way they do in the country you're in.
The problem is that all things are not equal. Developing markets must compete for human capital just as they must compete for investment capital. The educated people who would normally be smart, agressive entrepreneurs in developing countries are either a) already part of the established rent-seeking system and, therefore, already making excess returns or b) taking advantage of better opportunities elsewhere. Why mess about with trying to crack the local system when you can make piles of cash in the developed world without having to worry about being economically or physically knee-capped?
In other words, you need the right kind of local partner to make these investments work. But the right kind of local partner often has better things to do than be your local partner. Thus, you're left to choose between various wrong kinds of local partner.
China is a good example of this. When China first opened up, it was as worthless a mess as you could ever hope to see. The best and the brightest Chinese got out of China and never went back, often starting or working for extremely innovative companies in the U.S.
But China did have a lot of highly-trained smart, agressive people who were willing and able (language skills) to game the system -- Hong Kong. They turned China into a place to do business. Now, many Chinese who left China back in the 70s and 80s have gone back or at least established strong business links there and have made piles of cash in the process.
Had you tried to convince some of these people to go back to China to start a business in, say, 1985, they would have laughed at you and quite right, too. But without their (or someone like them's) cultural/political/linguistic skills, any enterpreneurial effort would have been doomed to failure.
In conclusion, if you have the right sort of local partners with the right sort of modern business attitudes you ought to make money in almost any sector -- the more basic the better. If you don't have the right sort of local partners with the right sort of modern business attitudes, you're probably going down in flames no matter how good your idea is.
For example, few things are less sexy than distribution systems. But if you had people with the guanxi to pull it off and the modern business attitudes to run it, you could make piles of money with a Walmart-style business in almost any region in the developing world. The problem is that the folks with the guanxi are already part of the system and the folks with the modern business attitudes are in London.
I plan to comment more on this. The commentator has hit on a number of points that I absolutely agree with. Some items I would qualify, and an excellent area of discussion.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:49 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
