Just Another Thought

A Continuum Of Loss

2012-01-17T00:19:00.000-08:00

In the last decade, since 9/11, we have witnessed the successive erosion of the civil rights of American citizens on a scale never thought to be possible. Most surprisingly, the weight of the Obama adminisration has collectively reaffirmed and extended the most objectionable laws, sweeping away constitutional guarantees framed by our forefathers. Legal concepts as fundamental as Habeus Corpus, with its beginning that pre-dates the Magna Carta, are gone, perhaps forever. Now, in newly proposed legislation, the government and copyright holders assume the authorization to summarily censure the World Wide Web under the guise of taking steps to eliminate internet piracy. However, Americans appear to be not standing passively by and allowing that. A huge collective voice has been raised, in a chorus of objections. What might we learn about these circumstances that continue to play out as I write?

SOPA And The Outcry Of Many
Anyone who depends on the internet for social contacts, work, research, news, or entertainment should take a high level of interest in the controversial The House' Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and sister act, Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) in the Senate. These two acts represent a continuation of a progressive and dramatic loss of personal freedoms that have been occurring in the United States since 9-11-2001. Together they constitute what I am calling a Continuum Of Loss. Since the most recently proposed legislation will almost certainly be consolidated into a single act, I will confine my reference to SOPA. The bill, intended to help stem online piracy and backed by companies like Disney, Viacom, and Time Warner, has set off the alarms of many sites and companies on the internet because it essentially allows the government and private corporations to censor entire sites, up too and including delisting DNS names, when they fear that the site is illegally distributing copyrighted material. Many companies and organizations - including Google, Twitter, Facebook, AOL, Zynga, Mozilla, LinkedIn, and Ebay, which took out a full-page ad in the NYTimes with a letter to the congressmembers involved—and numerous sites and civil-liberty groups—including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Demand Progress, Creative Commons, Wikimedia, and others—have spoken up against the act. In a nutshell, if enacted, the bills would extend the powers of US law enforcement agencies and copyright holders over copyrighted material sold or distributed online. There are substantial arguments about how such legislation could technically harm the internet. Of course, concerns have been raised that the legislation could have a serious impact on the freedom of expression enshrined in America’s First Amendment by allowing US authorities to shut down any website and its source of revenue. They also say it could have a negative impact on whistleblowing and people trying to highlight human rights abuses. The Center for Democracy and Technology’s David Sohn says that SOPA carries “dangerous consequences for innovation in online communications tools, for online free expression and for cybersecurity”. A very long list of organizations and prominent people have voiced their objections. Fortunately, last weekend the white house issued a statement of concerns about the pending legislation:

"While we believe that online piracy by foreign websites is a serious problem that requires a serious legislative response, we will not support legislation that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk, or undermines the dynamic, innovative global internet."
In the last few days it has begun to look as though the uproar over the online-piracy bill is having a real impact. With the statement quoted above, the White House strongly hinted that it would oppose the current legislation. That was a huge shift, and it came in response to a petition asking President Obama to veto the law if submitted by congress. In addition, even key sponsors are edging away from the bills’ most controversial features in the last few days. The bill's primary sponsor, Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), has said he’d remove the DNS-blocking provisions from his bill outright, pending further review. It is too early to call it a victory for free speech and Smith has indicated he will not give up the DNS delisting feature in the remedies described, only that he would study it further. Even if it were a victory over the proposed infringements we still have the problem of internet piracy as well as other cyber crimes to deal with. There is no question that copyright holders have legitimate issues with piracy on the internet. However, it would appear that the outcry of people, specifically those that voiced their objection to the pending bill through the White House web site called We The People have accomplished, at minimum, a temporary deterrence of the unwelcome legislation until modifications are made to assure the bill of rights and freedom of speech stay intact.
How sad is it that we did not react with similar vision and rise to action when even greater threats to our freedoms were enacted in recent history.

National Defense Authorization Act
In an unprecedented action the National Defense Authorization Act(2) was signed into law by Obama on Dec. 31st. It is an odious and draconian piece of legislation that extends the reach of detention without trial to include US citizens arrested in their own country without access to outside contacts. "It's something so radical that it would have been considered crazy had it been pushed by the Bush administration," said Tom Malinowski of Human Rights Watch. "It establishes precisely the kind of system that the U.S. has consistently urged other countries not to adopt. (3) "At a time when the U.S. is urging Egypt, for example, to scrap its emergency law and military courts, this is not consistent."
In its final form the new act dispenses with the legal concept and protection of Habeus Corpus, a legal concept that pre-dates the Magna Carta. History students may recall that the 1215 charter required King John of England to proclaim certain liberties, and accept that his will was not arbitrary, for example, by explicitly accepting that no "freeman" (in the sense of non-serf) could be punished except through the law of the land, a right which is still in existence in the laws of England today. At what point does the reduction of individual rights in our own country change how we define ourselves? Is that point now before us, as a fait accompli? I believe so. In fact, I believe we have done so before this act was signed into law. However, the act is part of a succession of steps that the government has used to eliminate civil rights under the guise of providing for our security. Americans may now be summarily imprisoned, without access to counsel, without assurance of a speedy trial, without even in so much as a phone call. Such a misfortunate soul will simply disappear from his place on earth and his loved ones are not assured of any knowledge of his whereabouts. Furthermore, it will be up to the authorities to decide if the detainee is given a trial by our court system or by military tribunal. All it takes, for that to happen, is any one of several federal agencies, to decide to act on the slightest suspicion of terrorism. There is no civil or judicial review required. No warrants signed. No "show cause" stipulations. No Miranda Rights. Senator Carl Levin, Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, has revealed that it was Obama's administration itself that lobbied to remove language from the bill that would have protected American citizens from being detained indefinitely without trial. However, the encroachment on our civil liberties is far more advanced and worse than even that. White house lawyers have asserted the President's "right" to order the extrajudicial assasination of American citizens (as well as foreign nationals). CIA and Defense Dept. attorneys argued that The White House has asserted the right to carry out state-sponsored assassination anywhere in the world without having to provide any evidence or go through any legal process. The administration merely has to state that the target is a terrorist and it doesn’t matter whether they are an American citizen or not. Again, no judicial review is required. All the President has to do is assert that the targeted individual is allied with terrorist. Section 1031 of the act is explicit about this. On Thursday, December 1st, 2011, CIA counsel Stephen Preston and Pentagon counsel Jeb Johnson stated at a national security conference that U.S. citizens do not have immunity when they are "at war" with the United States. Of course, the problem is in the determination of whether a citizen is "at war" with the United States. That determination is left entirely to the President and the Executive Branch of our government. I shudder to imagine such powers had they existed during the Nixon White House years while under the sway of people like G. Gordon Liddy.
To be sure the National Defense Authorization Act was delivered with some sense of urgency as it authorized the expenditure for our defense for the year 2012. To a citizenry much pummelled by fear mongering politicians over the last decade that must have seemed like an imperative of extraordinarily high urgency. It is. We cannot, nor should not, allow a lapse in the funding for our defense. We live in a world of real dangers, no one would deny that. But we should not allow our elected officials to dally, whther in arguments of principles or not, and then attach riders to proposed bills as we sensse a growing urgency. Apparently not only from without, but also from within.
Of course, upon signing the bill the President said “I have signed this bill despite having serious reservations with certain provisions that regulate the detention, interrogation, and prosecution of suspected terrorists,” Obama went further and offered more assurances to dissuade the alarms that must have been ringing in the heads of many Americans that can read and have a will to do so. “I want to clarify that my Administration will not authorize the indefinite military detention without trial of American citizens. Indeed, I believe that doing so would break with our most important traditions and values as a Nation” he said. That seems all well and good to some appparently, and perhaps some trust President Obama to use this new stipulated power wisely, but what about his successors? Would I, say for example, just as willingly give up my constitutional rights of due process to Rick Perry, the GOP candidate from Texas? Back to the point, would I give them up to President Obama? No.

National Patriot Act
The president may now order surveillance, without judicial review of court ordered warrants, including a new capability to force companies and organizations to turn over information on citizens’ finances, communications and associations. Bush inititially asserted these executive power under the Patriot Act enacted in 2001. However, in 2011, Obama extended the powers, which included searches of everything from business documents to library records. The government can use “national security letters” to demand, without probable cause or judicial warrants, that organizations turn over information on citizens — and can order those organizations, under penalty of law, not to disclose the breach to the subject party. Furthermore, the president alone is left to decide if a detainee is tried in a court of law or by a military tribunal, if the susppect is to receive a trial at all. These summary actions are more reminiscent of the laws of the lands in Saudi Arabia, or Pakistan, or China.

For liberal democrats especially, a real dillema exist here. In the past we have celebrated President Obama's presidency and defined it is our strongest line of defense against the very constructs of the Bush years that we bitterly railed against. As such we are prone to not vociferously criticize the man, as to do so is to relinquish our hopes to eradicate the legacies of the Bush years as welll as risk our ridicule by those we openly opposed. Even GOP loving friends will likely not restrain themselves. If we consider this for a moment, isn't that tendency to a pre-disposition in fact a very vulnerable position for us to indulge in? Some of us may go so far as to openly rationalize that "Obama would never abuse such a power". Ever heard of Pandora's Box? We would be doing so at our own peril. I am very close to recanting my support, in hopes that I am not too late. Certainly harm has been done. The extension of the Patriot Act and the Nat'l DefenseAuthorization Act are enacted with full force of law. We are not discussing "what if". We are alarmingly drawing attention to "WHAT IS".
It is time for us to consider what is happening regarding SOPA today, and how a unified voice can deter what is clearly bad moves on the part of government. Again, while it is too early to guess where the discussion over freedom of speech and the efforts to weigh against internet piracy, we could at least claim that we have slowed the process and provided pause to think it through. However, given what has happened, we mst draw a line here. Then we need to go back to the Patriot Act and the National Defense Act and lobby hard for whatever we might do to neuter them.

The question that arises in me, in a bitter voice of irony, is whether such a collective hue and cry has arisen over SOPA because we value our pirated copy of a Grateful Dead song over our fundamental rights to due process?

I truly hope not. As always, I welcome your unvarnished but polite thoughts.

(1) Washington Post Op Ed: "10 reasons the U.S. is no longer the land of the free"
(2) CRS Report: The Patriot Act (pdf).
(3) The Guardian, Dec 15, 2011 "Military given go-ahead to detain US terrorist suspects without trial"

Father's Day 2011

2011-06-20T01:34:00.000-07:00

I felt like I should "fess up" on the board today. I wrote a brief note on my wife’s food blog promising that I would prepare a curry on this Father’s day Sunday. Long story short I got lazy and didn't. Instead we called some friends and met for a long lunch at an interesting cafe that Quay Po had discovered while she was checking out a neighborhood near a condo she was considering as an investment and possible "retire to" place. We picked a perfect day, just temperate and breezy enough to allow us to dine al fresco. We had a delightful meal, starting with sharing one of their large-ish salads. Our choice was the frisee/arugula with avocado, gorgonzola, apple, and toasted walnuts tossed in a light vinaigrette. We then each had the foie gras which was served in a very unique fashion worth mentioning. The foie gras had been tossed in a seasoned flour and flash fried at high temperature. It sat upon a layer that started with a slice of toasted baguette, in turn topped with a grilled orange slice and spiced apple. The presentation was gorgeous. The taste was good except that we all agreed the foie gras was perhaps slightly over cooked. For mains my buddy & I chose home made beef sausages with mash and a deeply rich shallot & red wine reduction sauce. Quay Po chose garlic prawns while her counterpart chose roasted salmon. Our choices were beautifully plated, and delicious, perfectly accompanied by a very chilled bottle of Prosecco to lend to the festive meal. All of us were too stuffed to consider dessert but we did have a round of espressos, which seemed perfect after the rich and slightly sweet meal.

I will say it again, my favorite moments in life are dining leisurely on good food with good friends. Good wine is a bonus. My best meal memories include camp fire steaks with hunting and fishing buddies, the time I was introduced to Caspian caviar and ice cold Polish vodka in a campy Berlin bar, an exquisite Vienna restaurant, in candlelight with my lovely Krystle, more than one riotous drinking & eating parties with friends and colleagues in Tokyo, surprising and amazing Mexican food in Suzhou China, ice cold beer and ceviche from freshly caught yellow fin chopped on the wooden seat of a panga boat while drifting in the Sea of Cortez, the incredible cheese steak sandwiches in a hole-in-the-wall South Philly joint found purely by accident, the best ever veal shared in a Milano restaurant with a colleague from New Zealand, the biscuits & gravy in a cafe called The Rose in a west Kansas town the summer I did farm work so many years ago (the same town in which we had to fight our way through several "townies" that took umbrage at the attention one of our rowdy crew had paid to a local gal), the spicy pasta in a Rome trattoria where the good hearted owner fell in love with my wife and catered to her, and on our last evening there, walked out with us and hugged us with a tear in his eyes, and so many more memorable occasions. It seems to me that my life comprises these events in a series of exclamation points. It has been a very fortunate journey so far.

An odd moment for a brief note

2011-04-22T01:12:00.000-07:00

It is an odd moment to write a brief blog, and it has been months since last doing so, as my usual sloth still reigns supreme. I am sitting in the study and awaiting my wife who is upstairs freshening up for a late afternoon/early evening visit to friends of ours. They have a just delivered a new baby into their family, the Mum and Baby both doing very well. Outside on our dining room table, there is a large box of cupcakes (lovely things with creamy peanut butter frosting, sitting on top of orange-vanilla sponge). They and the bouquet of flowers she bought earlier today, are intended to make our visit a festive occasion. Of course she had to set up her cameras and lights to take pictures of these for her blog. It is that way for virtually every meal, as she explores the wonder and rewards of cooking. It has so taken her interest that little else seems to matter much these days. Having said that I am not complaining. It has been very good to see her occupied and enjoying herself. I am her taste tester, and aside from the extra pounds I have put on, it has been a good experience for me as well. However, I occasionally feel like like I am caught up in her hobby and am becoming more defined as "the blogger's husband". It seems a small price to pay. Anyone stumbling onto this blog can visit hers at http://quaypocooks.blogspot.com.

Taking a break...wish there was more

2011-02-12T20:05:00.000-08:00

This morning I watched Singapore awaken from the 61st floor perch of my hotel room while sipping coffee. The weather is archetypal equatorial. It is hot, and incredibly humid at this time of day. In view are the Singapore River's entry into the harbor, the in vogue entertainment and restaurant venues along the Boat Quay and Clark Quay sides of the river as well as a large swath of the cityscape. As the sun rises, the mist of ground fog is noticeable. The whole process of sun against wet ground is easily observed from my vantage point, as the humidified mist rises up towards me. The view, while not opaque, is getting thicker, and for a moment I literally have my head in the cloud of ground fog as it rises and dissipates in the relentless sun. It seems to me that it is an apt condition for this languid Sunday morning in the land of Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling. In fact, the view from my skyscraping room includes the Raffles hotel where both English authors stayed during the late, pre war, and colonial times here.

From experience I know that in a few minutes the sun will have risen further and win another decisive victory over the wet ground. It will soon be hot enough that there will be no visible ground fog and the entire conversion of ground water to disconnected molecules will occur at ground level, invisible to the human eye. However, it won't be undetected by the human body's thermostat and anyone walking below will soon be perspiring in an involuntary but futile attempt to cool down. To their frustration, there is no evaporation to allow the heat exchange, as there are zero breezes to fan it. I turn back into the room, close the patio door, and lock out the heat & humidity. It is Sunday morning, and although the conditions call for a languid response, this is Singapore and there is no such response here. I am returning to the work on my desk as business demands call, and work overrides pleasure. I spent all of Saturday traveling to this city and subsequently meeting for five hours with young execs from two parties contemplating a merger deal. I have only ten days to prepare a report for the board of one of the companies involved. They have asked for an opinion, my opinion. Frankly, I am unabashedly proud of that while, but at the same time, I'm struck by the weight and gravity of the trust. My equatorial, Somerset Maugham inspired, reverie is soon to be forgotten. With a last brief thought that I probably had just had my entire weekend respite in those few minutes of sipping coffee and watching the hot sun and the wet ground replay their timeless morning tug of war, I am turning my thoughts back to the work. This is Singapore today. This is Asia today. I do not know how long, at my age, I can keep the pace. Most of Asia today is a very young, energetic, and impatient place. Almost every thing I do these days is laced with my own frequent furtive glances around the landscape for a place to recline and watch from a less engaged position.

Cooking Christmas Starts HERE!

2010-12-22T01:52:00.000-08:00

We started cooking yesterday. Stuffing casserole, salsa, and gravy already bagged. Much more to do. More marketing tomorrow. This week, I am a chef.

In three days I'll be Santa.

I'm loving it!!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone. And remember; think globally & act locally!

Blues doesn't get any better than this -"Living Proof"

2010-12-01T00:09:00.000-08:00

"Living Proof" by Buddy Guy
There are always a large number of new music releases done around the holidays, many of which are holiday music of course, but the new release from bluesmeister Buddy Guy doesn't go there. Instead, we get a big steaming platter of the kind of soul satisfying, Chicago, blues that the clearly energized senior minster of R&B has been so blessedly talented at for more than half a century.

"Buddy Guy dedicates this CD to the fact that he's *SEVENTY-FOUR-YEARS-OLD*... his one of a kind electric blues performance says more than words can ever hope to... that he is absolutely ageless. His emanating power... song selection... which melds lyrics... voice... and mind boggling electrical guitar dominance... speaks of a man one-third his age with blues talent that has to come straight from the Lord. Way before you've even finished listening to this instant electric blues classic for the first time... a true lover of electric blues is thinking and praying way past the obvious next move of playing it again... you're selfishly dreaming of his next CD." - Review, Shaq Goldstein

The new release features all new music by the axeman, including two collaborative songs of legendary heights with BB King and Carlos Santana respectively.Fortunately, in the headwinds of the continuing saga of the global economy, merchants are deeply discounting this year again, so if you have the spare scratch loose in your pocket, this one will set you back only $10 bucks. I have never heard Buddy Guy sound as good.
(Disclaimer: though the link takes you to Amazon's page for the new release, we have no affiliation with them and don't make a penny if you click through or buy the CD.)

A blog about a blog

2010-11-25T19:25:00.000-08:00

If you have somehow randomly alighted here for a moment the first thing you will notice is that I blog infrequently. The only reason for this that is legitimate is that in my work I write constantly and to blog seems like a chore to me sometimes. In addition, I really never have an audience in mind when I write here. I tend to write more for myself when I have something that has popped into my mind and doesn't depart as easily as it arrived.

Today I blog primarily to provide a link to my wife's food blog. She started blogging food just several weeks ago and has had much success attracting attention to her recipes and the wonderful photos she takes of the dishes she prepares.
So if you are the least bit curious about the merger of two food cultures (Southeast Asian and American), and how food became a central binding in our marriage, then click on the link. I can only promise a colorful and tasty experience presented in upbeat fashion and personalized by my gung ho wife whose natural enthusiasm is infectious. Bon appetite!
http://www.quaypocooks.blogspot.com/

One of the best films this year, and perhaps a favorite of all time

2010-08-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

If you have not seen it yet (and chances are good that you haven't), this year's winner of the 2010 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film; "El Secreto de Sus Ojos” ("The Secret In Their Eyes") is one the more luscious films I have seen since, well, not that long ago actually. Earlier this year we saw "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo". (Sadly, the Swedish original is being remade for release in the USA. That is a mistake, but that is another story.)
"The Secret In Their Eyes" is an Argentinean film with a script that thumbs it's nose at the formulaic pap that Hollywood so often delivers to the screen in your neighborhood. Majestic in scope, space, and time, and set against the backdrop of a corrupted dictatorial government, its central theme is of the epic struggle between good versus evil. The former is embodied in our protagonist, an investigator for the criminal court of justice, while the latter is embodied both in one of his political enemies, and also a diabolical thrill killer, both parts played by capable actors. But that is hardly all. The story line also explores and resolves themes of unrequited love, political corruption, revenge, Quixotic investigative work, commitment to friendship, the tenacity of justice that is sometimes wrought by ordinary men in extraordinary circumstances. Perhaps as much as any of these rich tableaux, is the theme of how a lost opportunity can haunt you for life. As I watched it I thought of films like “Dr. Zhivago”, “Z”, “Citizen X”, or “The Night Of The Generals”. ___________________________________________________________________________________
"Cinema is an old whore, like circus or variety, who knows how to give many kinds of pleasure.
Besides, you can't teach old fleas new dogs."
- Frederico Fellini
_____________________________________________________________________________________
This is one of those films that you will want to curl up with at a quiet moment. Lock up the house and take the phone off the hook. By all means see it with someone, but preferably someone who will not need to ask a question every time there is a flashback. The Spanish is rich and beautiful and the voices equally so. Use the English subtitles. There will come a moment in the film when you will want to dissipate nervous energy with some crunching. Have some popcorn and your favorite beverage on standby. (Hold the butter and use a bit of celery or garlic salt).
The film is available in non-USA PAL format from Amazon (or presumably others). I would suggest you wait until the September 21st USA formatted release in DVD or better yet, BluRay if you have the player.
Otherwise, you will need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: Spanish ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), Spanish ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Commentary, Filmographies, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: Set in Argentina, The Secret in Their Eyes stars Ricardo Darin as Benjamin, a retired public attorney whose last request from the office involves a file regarding an unsolved case from the 1970s. Told in flashback, it was Benjamin who was responsible for the prosecution in the murder of a innocent newlywed bride. A new minted attorney in his office at the time, Irene (Soledad Villamil), works on the investigation as well, and her relationship with Benjamin plays out both in the past and present. As the mystery begins to provide answers, the truth could cleanse the sins of the past. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: Cinema Writers Circle Awards, Spain, Goya Awards, Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Film.

An Open Reply to Than Tai Hing’s Letter in the Wall Street Journal

2010-06-20T21:22:00.000-07:00

Reply to Than Tai Hing
Undersecretary of Information and Public Diplomacy,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia
RE: Your Letter in the Wall Street Journal, June 16, 2010

Sir;

As an American ex-patriate living for several years as a guest in your country I have allowed myself the vanity of believing that perhaps I am in a position to understand Malaysia and Malaysian foreign policy better than the average world citizen. In the case of Malaysia’s condemnation of Israel’s heavy handed dealing of the flotilla, itself intent on breaking the Israeli blockade of Gaza, I share some of the concerns of many Malaysians and many people around the world. However, I believe the consistent bias of Malaysia’s condemnation of Israel and criticism of the USA has been so clearly one-sided that it is obvious to any observer where the bias lies. If Malaysia’s government is truly peace loving and truly committed to human rights it must first adopt the language of that position consistently. For example, when the Taliban execute a seven year old boy, such as occurred recently, where is the outrage of your government and its citizens? You seem to have been too pre-occupied with condeming Israel to even take notice. It is also perplexing to me that when Malaysian citizens wish to demonstrate against U.S. policy at our emabassy, there are no police to secure the area, and the demonstration is allowed to continue. When Malaysian citizens wish to demonstrate against their own government’s policies there is no restraint on the part of the authorities in dispatching police and soldiers to quell the disturbance. As long as these contradictions are so apparent, Malaysia will be understood by Americans to have actually little to do with championing fair, just, and humane ideology, which embrace universal ideals, and more to do with the double standards reflecting its anti-western bias. You must bridge this gap if you are to succeed in addressing the American people who contend with multiple examples of double standards each and very day in a much more public forum than that exists in Malaysia.
Sincerely;
Gary Davis

Has it really been 7 months since I posted a blog?

2010-06-01T01:27:00.001-07:00

I am surprised with myself that I have not posted a blog in 7 months. Can't hardly expect to attract readers that way, of course. So what happened during the interim? Well, quite a lot actually. The Christmas & New Year holidays came & went without very much noteworthy other than our usual family gathering. As we entered the new year I was beginning to get more optimistic about the economy and my business. Things were looking up as we approached the Chinese New Year, another big celebration in our family. This year it was to fall on Valentine's day so it seemed we would have another reason to celebrate love in our home. Then suddenly everything changed. Two or three days before Chinese New Year my lower right leg and foot began to swell and was painful. The day before the holiday arrived I was admitted to hospital with an unknown infection. I won't describe the gory detailed symptoms other then to mention that I had a fever and that the skin of my foot and lower leg was erupting with what looked like blisters & abrasions. I was given a phalynx of antibiotics. Still, after several days in which much of the problem seemed to be receding, a couple of spots on my foot troubled the doctors. Long story short; they did surgery to remove material from the swollen foot and after several days I was released. Then a week later, as the rest of the leg healed a new area on the foot became problematic and required another surgery. That and another two months on very strong antibiotics finally erased the malady except for the two scars on my foot.
Just as I was feeling 100% again, the troubles in Thailand boiled over and I was forced to rearrange travel schedules I had planned for business. There I was, all healed up and no place to go. Business is finally settling into a more routine schedule. During my hiatus I had spent an inordinate amount of time in my recliner, even sleeping in it at night, as it afforded the chance to keep my leg raised to minimise fluid retention around the surgery area. I got used to living life in a chair and when I re-animated it took a week before I didn't notice how weak I had become. Now, several weeks later I feel very thankful that is behind me.
We tend to take our health for granted and when it is interupted we are usually amazed that whatever it is can happen to us in the first place. But a disruption like this one has an impact on your thinking that won't go away. Little lessons that needed relearning included never take a small cut or skin break for granted. Clean it, saturate it with antispetic, cover it if neccessary. Keep tending it with with frqequent cleaning and new dressings (bandages). Failure to do so could lead to a serious infection, which you don't want to even think about. This is likely what happened to me (though I cannot recall a prior abrasion or cut.) I am certain that it won't happen again, at least insofar as an untended wound of any kind.

I think this one is so right on the mark that it deserves second and third thoughts

2009-11-30T23:23:00.000-08:00

I am compelled by the comedy work of the late & great George Carlin. Still, of all his work I think this one clip is perhaps his most meaningful comedy and doesn't just compel a laugh. It isn't just great performance & funny, and witty delivery.

Tourist scams at Bangkok airport

2009-08-01T03:04:00.001-07:00

There is no question that Thailand has suffered losses in the tourist trade they are so reliant on. It is also certain that the global economic slowwdown and the advent and spread of H1N1 virus has curtailed tourist travel all over the world. However, Thailand has added to their difficulties in several ways that are unique to it. Last year's inexplicable shutdown of the airport as it was occupied by protestors is one example. That Thai authorities did not move decisively to clear the airport, and instead chose to take a major hit to their economy as a result, seems incredible to the average traveler from outside this arcane and internecine country. For those of us who find ourselves on a frequent basis we have a common lament that we share with one another when we encounter something that seems amazingly thick headed. We simply say TIT (this is Thailand) and shrug our shoulders. There are so many things that happen here that fall into the category of beyond comprehension that one would have to wonder if the acronym F.U.B.A.R. retired to Thailand after WWII and found fertile ground here. However, the story that is emerging about corrupt police scouring the airport for unwary tourists to shake-down just about takes the prize. Read on and wonder:

Jul 20, 2009 Bangkok's showcase new international airport is no stranger to controversy. Built between 2002 and 2006, under the governments of then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, the opening date was repeatedly delayed. It has been dogged by allegations of corruption, as well as criticism of the design and poor quality of construction.

Then, at the end of last year, the airport was shut down for a week after being occupied by anti-government protesters. Now new allegations have been made that a number of passengers are being detained every month in the duty free area on suspicion of shoplifting, and then held by the police until they pay large sums of money to buy their freedom.

That is what happened to Stephen Ingram and Xi Lin, two IT experts from Cambridge, as they were about to board their flight to London on the night of 25 April this year. They had been browsing in the duty free shop at the airport, and were later approached by security guards, who twice asked to search their bags. They were told a wallet had gone missing, and that Ms Lin had been seen on a security camera taking it out of the shop.

The company that owns the duty free shop, King Power, has since put the CCTV video on its website, which does appear to show her putting something in her bag. However the security guards found no wallet on either of them.

Despite that, they were both taken from the departure gate, back through immigration, and held in an airport police office. That is when their ordeal started to become frightening.

The "Interpreter"
"We were questioned in separate rooms," Mr Ingram said. "We felt really intimidated. They went through our bags and demanded that we tell them where the wallet was." The two were then put in what Mr Ingram describes as a "hot, humid, smelly cell with graffiti and blood on the walls". Mr Ingram managed to phone a Foreign Office helpline he found in a travel guide, and was told someone in the Bangkok embassy would try to help them.

The next morning the two were given an interpreter, a Sri Lankan national called Tony, who works part-time for the police. They were taken by Tony to meet the local police commander - but, says Mr Ingram, for three hours all they discussed was how much money they would have to pay to get out. They were told the charge was very serious. If they did not pay, they would be transferred to the infamous Bangkok Hilton prison, and would have to wait two months for their case to be processed.

Mr Ingram says they wanted £7,500 ($12,250) - for that the police would try to get him back to the UK in time for his mother's funeral on 28 April. But he could not arrange to get that much money transferred in time.

'Zig-zag' scheme

Tony then took them to an ATM machine at the police station, and told Ms Lin to withdraw as much as she could from her own account - £600 - and Mr Ingram then withdrew the equivalent of £3,400 from his account.

This was apparently handed over to the police as "bail", and they were both made to sign a number of papers.

Later they were allowed to move to a squalid hotel within the airport perimeter, but their passports were held and they were warned not to leave or try to contact a lawyer or their embassy.

"I will be watching you," Tony told them, adding that they would have to stay there until the £7,500 was transferred into Tony's account.

On the Monday they managed to sneak out and get a taxi to Bangkok, and met an official at the British Embassy.

She gave the name of a Thai lawyer, and, says Mr Ingram, told them they were being subjected to a classic Thai scam called the "zig-zag".

Their lawyer urged them to expose Tony - but also warned them that if they fought the case it could take months, and they risked a long prison sentence.

After five days the money was transferred to Tony's account, and they were allowed to leave.

Mr Ingram had missed his mother's funeral, but at least they were given a court document stating that there was insufficient evidence against them, and no charge.

"It was a harrowing, stressful experience," he said.

The couple say they now want to take legal action to recover their money.

'Typical' scam

The BBC has spoken to Tony and the regional police commander, Colonel Teeradej Phanuphan.

They both say Tony was merely helping the couple with translation, and raising bail to keep them out of prison.

Tony says about half the £7,500 was for bail, while the rest were "fees" for the bail, for his work, and for a lawyer he says he consulted on their behalf.

In theory, he says, they could try to get the bail portion refunded.

Colonel Teeradej says he will investigate any possible irregularities in their treatment. But he said any arrangement between the couple and Tony was a private affair, which did not involve the police.

Letters of complaint to the papers here in Thailand make it clear that passengers are regularly detained at the airport for alleged shoplifting, and then made to pay middlemen to win their freedom.

The Danish Embassy says one of its nationals was recently subjected to a very similar scam, and earlier this month an Irish scientist managed to flee Thailand with her husband and one year-old son after being arrested at the airport and accused of stealing an eyeliner worth around £17.

Tony told the BBC that so far this year he has "helped" about 150 foreigners in trouble with the police. He says sometimes he does it for no charge.

The British Embassy has also warned passengers at Bangkok Airport to take care not to move items around in the duty free shopping area before paying for them, as this could result in arrest and imprisonment.

It would be easy to become cynical in a place in which corruption seems so ingrained into everyday life. However, I have considerable experience being in Thailand and doing business here. I would have to add to the above in an attempt at fair balance that the vast majority of people I have met and had any interchange with here have treated me fairly and honestly. Like all aberations, it is the few that abuse power or are simply criminal that spoil it for all. That is why I would suspect that a crackdown on the airport "zig zag" scam has probably already quietly begun.

Nick gets his first film role with a lead part

2009-05-07T01:17:00.000-07:00

OK, I can't help it but who wouldn't be proud. Nicholas has captured his first film role in Malaysia and it is a major part. He is to play a local tough guy and the title of the film, Gadoh" is the Bhasa for "Fight". This is another effort to promote racial harmony in Malaysia where the lines of demarcation between the races have always been a challenge for the mostly peace loving citizens of this country. While the movie is mostly in Bhasa Malaysia you may want to check it out. Nick just celebrated his 21st Birthday.

Malaysian Film “GADOH” (FIGHT).
http://www.komas.org/gadoh/
Synopsis

"'Gadoh' tells the story of a group of teenagers who fought each other
along racial lines; a cycle of hatred and violence that was further escalated
by their environment and school system.

What was to be a quick resolution to improve the school’s bad image,
was taken as an opportunity by one teacher who believed that real
change was possible. She ropes in the help of an old friend and reluctant
maverick theater activist for this arduous task.

Is there hope amidst the cycle of discrimination that surrounds us?
Watch Gadoh for their story, and what it may very well tell us about
ourselves."

Film Info:
Duration: 70 mins
Director: Brenda Danker, Namron
Producer: Anna Har
Production Company: Big Pictures Productions
Supported by Pusat KOMAS
Starring: Namron, Nicholas Liew Davis, Zahiril Adzim, Amerul Affendi and Maya Tan Abdullah
Language: Bahasa Malaysia with English/BM subtitles
Poster design by: Alexdrina Chong, Lucid Design Collaborative Studio

Gadoh Launch and Preview

Launch Date: May 22nd 2009
Venue: Theaterette HELP University College
For more info: www.komas.org/gadoh
Email: gadohthemovie@gmail.com

Public Screening at 5 PM
(Please email gadohthemovie@gmail.com for your free tickets).
Official launch and screening at 8 PM (By special invites only).
Limited Gadoh DVDs and stickers will be also be given to viewers on that day only!

The beginning of the toothless period

2009-05-04T02:03:00.000-07:00

If life can be described in periods (and life is described that way all the time) then the period I am entering, as of today, might be called the "toothless" period. Today's trip to the hospital for physical therapy included a visit to their dental clinic to have a tooth extracted, an upper secondary molar to be exact. It is only the second time I have had to give up a permanent tooth, and I cannot say that it was without regret that I did so today. The first one I lost was an accident, delivered in the form of a piston sized spring loaded tripod that I knew little about but felt compelled to play with all the thingamajigs attached thereto anyway. That is until I found the release of the spring just as I was bent over the device. The front tooth thus lost, to the effect of my sudden transformation into looking like a hockey player, was replaced by an artificial one that still stands proud and ready to rip meat. The offending tooth extracted today had previously been broken, and I have known for a long time that it would eventually lose it's bony grip. The tooth that appeared on the tray after a deft procedure by the dentist, was rather long. Perhaps I should amend my label for this period of life to "longtooth". That has a certain primitive ring to it and I rather like it. I thought about these things during the taxi ride back to the apartment all the while clamping down on a hunk of gauze provided to stop the bleeding.

Only after I resettled in the apartment, and began to contemplate which pain killer I would take, did I read the instructions provided by the dental office on the care and healing of the wound left in the now unoccupied space in my mouth. Several chunks of the tasteless gauze were provided along with the following instructions:

"Bite the gauze firmly for 1 to 1 1/2 hours for baby tooth to help stop bleeding. If bleeding persists, change to new gauze and continue biting for another 1/2 to 1 hour, or until breeding stops."

So, I guess I could interpret the instructions as a recommendation that no more breeding was desirable, which I further assume is advise designed to avoid birthing any new baby teeth. Surely I was given the wrong instructions I thought. Certainly that long hunk of ivory that lay on the stainless tray in the dental surgery when I last bid it a final goodbye could not be confused with a baby tooth. At least not from any baby I would care to see.

There were no clues in the ensuing sentence on the instruction sheet which only suggested that I avoid "toughing the wound". I can vouch for the fact that I will avoid anything like "toughing" this wound for at least several hours. I am not sure what "toughing" the writer had in mind but the word raises mental images of sintering or repeated striking with a cinder block the why that karate enthusiast are alleged to do. In fact, I was thinking that about the only thing this wound might be exposed to for at least this evening is the eight year old Cuban rum I favor and some nice salty (and soft) chicken porridge. Since the "Big Lebowski" is on HBO tonight I think I can make it through the evening, without thinking about the missing tooth or whether I should have saved it for the tooth fairy, but I'll bet it would have fetched more than a quarter.

P.S. Expatriates and Western visitors get no end of amusement from the kind of "English-as-a-second language mistakes that appear in this part of the world. While we can be rational, and understanding human beings, lets face it, when something strikes your funny bone it is very difficult to be gracious. We know that our hosts are far superior to us who refuse to learn a second language in any communicable form. We also know that we provide no end of hilarity to them through our frequent misguided faux paux here. However, the use of English, especially in Asia, is just too ripe to not find humor in thereof. In fact, we have a name for it apparently. It is called "Engrish" and there is a whole website dedicated to examples of it. Enjoy. By the way, when I have my libation tonight, I think my toast will be..."may the next loss of a tooth take so long".

S.M. Grande Apartments Bangkok

2009-04-29T02:30:00.000-07:00

For the last two years I have kept a rental apartment in Bangkok due to the amount of time my business requires me to be in that great city. Unfortunately I made a very poor judgement in selecting the S.M. Grande Apartments on Soi 4 (Soi "See") in the Klong Toey district.

Based on my limited experience I've concluded that selecting an apartment can be as challenging as hiring the right person for a job. As much as one may try to objectively evaluate an apartment, there are always some things you will learn only after abiding in the place for a while. Sadly, any one of the things that I have learned about S.M. Grande Apartments would have caused me to walk away had I known them in the first place. The inertia that one has to overcome just to move a few possessions into another place is greater than I would have guessed. I always felt too busy. However, I have recently overcome that inertia and am busily finding an alternative. It occurred to me that I might be doing someone a favor if I listed out my observations of S.M. Grande's shortcomings.

My largest concern has been the fact that the front desk at S.M. Grande is not manned by professional property management people and at evenings and nighttime is not manned at all. English as a second language is not a priority among them and communication is particularly difficult. However, even a person who speaks and understands English only little can be a big help in an emergency. Sadly, the S.M. Grande closes their front desk at seven each evening and it doesn't re-open the desk until the following morning at 9 am (or at least that is the policy). A lot can happen in 14 hours, including one the several power outages I have experienced since I began to use the apartment. I am here approximately 25% of the time so that having been through seven power outages in two years is far too many. I might add that I mention only those outages that effect this building and are not systemic.

A major second concern is that I have yet to experience a full day of uninterrupted internet access. That this has been a continuous problem for the duration of my stay here suggests the lack of management resolve to fix problems as they arise. Interestingly, their solution is to give you the number of the contracted technical support person, whom you may be able to reach, and then again, may not be able to reach. The extent of the support for the internet access (both wireless and cable are available) is a reboot of the local server by desk personnel. In the evening, with no attendant on duty, you are simply going to have to do without. Forget late night catching up on emails or scheduling skype conference calls to the states when this happens.

No surprise, because it is virtually impossible to speak to the management here. They are either "in a meeting" or "out of the office" 100% of the time. The only course for problem resolution is one of the young desk clerks that speaks English poorly as I alluded to earlier. While these folks seem to want to help, they are often lacking any authority to effect a resolution.

This is a location that shows especially well. The apartment building is fitted with an attractive pool area, a well equipped fitness center, as well as steam and sauna. Oddly I find them seldom used and have enjoyed the perk. The apartments themselves were refurbished two years ago and also show well. However, be advised that the walls are paper thin and the corridors and elevator lobby have zero sound suppression considered in their design. The design of the doors and their locking mechanism requires that one must close the door firmly. This always sets off a loud reverberating bang through the hallways that can be easily heard throughout the floor. At 2 am when holiday makers are returning, it will wake you up, guaranteed. Also be advised that the apartment policy allows kids.

For these reasons, and a plethora of much smaller issues, I would give the S.M. Grande a pass whether I was renting by the month or by the day. Oh, did I mention that? While S.M. Grande is intended as a residence, management rents unoccupied apartments by the night to holiday revelers. This can be problematic due to the noise problem I mentioned earlier.

Bangkok is a wonderful city with excellent shopping, superb hotels, and exquisite restaurants. Living here and working here, however, presents challenges to the most experienced ex pats. A good home base, free from the above concerns, would go a long way towards making life here far more pleasant. Good hunting.

Better late than never....

2009-04-11T04:11:00.000-07:00

It has been months since I posted here. It isn't that I ran out of steam because of the election. My previous posts were pretty fixated on the recession and the election. However, in November I started a project for a new client that took way more of my time and I simply never found a moment of my own that I didn't just want to collapse into a chair and chill. That is still pretty much the case today except a lower back problem has me on a mandatory chill. With the new found time on my hands I thought I would break the silence (partially in hopes that you will follow in kind).

Following are just some random items. These are posted with the thought in mind that this is what I intended when I started the blog. That it evolved into a running rant about politics and the economy wasn't so much a betrayal of my intentions as much as letting my mind do the walking (and talking). That too is what a blog should be I suppose.

I continue to be mesmerized by great rock guitar and have been downloading music from iTunes and Amazon at a rapid rate. One of my guitar heroes is Jeff Beck who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame for the second time last week. At the bottom of this page you can find his performance (as found on you tube) accompanied by former Yardbird mate Jimmy Page at the induction performance. His musicianship never fails to thrill me.

A week ago I came to Thailand for business and ended up going to a doctor. I knew when I left home that I had an irritating case of sciatica but by the time I reached here and after having made my way through two airports, I finally had to throw in the towel. As a result I have been back to the clinic every day for physical therapy in treatment of a slipped disk that is pressing against the sciatic nerve causing shooting pains from my lower back down the right leg. My lower back has always been a weak link for me but until recently it didn't occur to me that there was actual stuff happening in there. That sounds silly but there are aches and pains you just come to accept as you get older. I guess I will be more alert to this in the future.

This month Nicholas will reprise his role in a locally grounbreaking play called "Aircon". The first run of the play, a year ago, created quite a stir in Malaysia for it's honest and open treatment of homosexuality (a rare thing in this conservative Muslim country). To read about the play and the interview in the local paper of Nick and hiss fellow thespians you can visit this link. I posted the ppicture that Veronica scanned from the newspaper on my Facebook gallery here.

I haven't heard from Kathleen or Jim since before Christmas or from Don for quite a while so I am making a point of poking at them here in hopes of getting a rise. I send the "poke" along with "I love you and miss you!".

In keeping with my temporary sedentary lifestyle I have been watching a lot of television and ploughing my way through movies I have recorded on my disk drive. Last night I watched (for the second time)the most recent Woody Allen feature "Matchpoint". I confess that I have never seen a Woody Allen movie that I did not like and Matchpoint is one of his best. If you haven't seen it I would urge you to do so.

Before I came to Thailand I made a credible jambolaya at home. I think it is the first time I have made it since marrying Veronica and moving here. That was an oversight because it was a huge hit with everyone. Do any of you cook jambolaya at home. I can remember Mom making it frequently in our house.

One of the more interesting news stories of the day involve the taking of an American ship by Somali pirates and the resulting stand-off. I find it appalling that Somali pirates have terrorized a major shipping lane with impunity. I think it is time for that to end and hope there is some punishment meted out to them as a part of the resolution to the current stand off. The latest headline has the pirates issuing a warning to the Americans against any rescue attempts. Utterly infuriating.

Well, I am off to my lazyboy, (the perfect vessel for a body with a bad back).

Maybe it all really did boil down to this...

2008-11-05T16:44:00.000-08:00

With two new projects underway I have been snowed under by work. That isn't unusual for me. My business has always been non-linear in terms of time demand. As election eve approached I was on a plane to Singapore, the start of an eight city trip that will take me home in the first week of December. Fortunately Veronica will join me for much of it and it won't be all business. I need to be in Nuremberg for a few days as a result of one of my business projects. Veronica will join me in Bangkok and we will first go to Munich for two days then take the train to Nuremberg on the 17th. I will work a few days with my client while Veron sight-sees. At the end of that week we will take a train to Prague and Vienna and afterwards return to Munich by way of train through Salzberg. We've booked first class seats so we should have plenty to view in the way of scenery. Of course it isn't exactly tourist season in that part of the world, but both of us are exhilarated at the thought of feeling cold air and seeing snow. Veronica has a new pair of Timberland boots, and I have a new overcoat (oops...are we spending?...tsk tsk)
My work and the trip were on my mind as I flew to Singapore. My schedule didn't allow much election watching, so it was shortly after 12 noon our time that I received an SMS from Veronica saying "Congratulations, your man won". The fate of America approached a defining hour, and passed through while I taxi'd from one appointment to another.

Still, the moment itself, as played back on our evening news, did not disappoint. In my lifetime I have not witnessed such a spontaneous outburst of joy in the entire world (except Russia) on an election result. When I ask myself how this has come about I would answer that a simple contrast led to Obama's white house victory. The encumbent party led by McCain seemed mired in the negative message of fear, nebulous accusations, and for Palin, highly repetitive sound bites. I think Obama's campaign stayed on a message of hope, with rhetoric that gave us a brief respite from the realities of our time. I think this message is what won the day.

All of us share a basic need for hope. When it is missing we are miserable. When it is restored we are ebullient. I think it is our hope that we won back. From the news reports we learned this celebration of hope was acknowledged and celebrated all over the world. We lost it I think. Our hope had gone, which led to loss of confidence, and perhaps even some loss of dignity. We behaved in ways never seen so publicly in our history. The speed of the global internet, blogging, digital photos, having become what they are; and there was almost zero control of what went in and out of war zones. The cameras were even able to probe Abu Grahib, Guantanamo, and showed us things that took a little more out of us then I can recall. We learned about "water boarding". If you were like me, you were sickened by it all. Certainly the period from 1968 through Watergate gave us all an edgy cynicism that seemed to stick. In the last eight years we also began to fall into apathy. It was a remarkable time, and I suspect it will draw many analysis in time to come. I can't help but wonder if we were driven to spend to compensate for our growing uneasiness.

The big question before us is how we are going to use this new found hope (assuming you share a sense of hope with me). There is a lot to overcome. I note in the news the return of tribal warfare in the Congo. Russia used the U.S. election to announce the deployment of missles on the Polish border. The stock market plunged 500 points the day after the election as it turned its collective attention back to the real issues of falling business activity and dramatically falling unemployment. Reports Friday tell us there are ten million Americans out of work tonight, the most in twenty-five years. There are likely many more coming into that demographic if the Fed doesn't bail the auto industry. They say they need $50B to survive, but no guarantees they won't need more. Retailers felt the floor fall away in October, harbingers of one of the worse commercial Christmases in our memory. Then there are the state governments themselves, coming under enormous pressure as their tax bases decline rapidly. Investment advise columns tell us we should worry about munis' defaulting. They are going to need some of that fed money also according to talking heads. We shouldn't forget that the Fed has already injected more dollars into the financial system than the annual GDP of Australia. We will have to wait to see the long term impact of such a huge injection of funds, but we can expect that number to grow rather then diminish s the needs line up. Don't forget that Obama is going to raise taxes for some, and is going to need to spend. Hopefully his spending will be wiser then that of the last eight years.

It's a good thing to have a ray of hope now. It is apparent that we face a period of much sacrifice and probably more decline. We need more then ever to nurture that precious commodity, even more then gold, more then oil, maybe even more then wheat. I hope our hope lasts but I think hope is as infectuous as the loss of it. Be sure to share whatever hope you have. You don't actually lose it when you do that. You actually multiply it.

There will many any need of it. It is one thing to stand in a crowd and cheer on election night. It is quite another to watch your bills collect on the side table while you change the dial between daytime TV shows. Be charitable this Christmas, perhaps foregoing personal gifts and giving to others if you can. Be charitable at home too. Plan a warm quiet Christmas and count the blessings you have. You have your family. You live in what is still by far the most free country in the world. There are others reasons to be hopeful beyond Obama's inspiring oratory. For example we have never had such sophisticated, nor readily available technology in our history. Gains in productivity are being realized on every front. Our security is better now then ever, some would say too much better but I do not agree. We could also point to the flip side of one our economic problems; the country is leaning out both corporate and consumer debt. Corporates are selling assets and paying down debt as fast as they can. Cash is king again they say. I would say there sure is plenty of it being poured into the tank but it isn't getting burnt yet. The domestic oil and alternative energy field is going to get a huge stimulus if Obama keeps his campaign pledge. He won't give up on that one. He sees it as a cornerstone of what will be his legacy. We will cause more distress to OPEC over the next 15 years then they have ever felt. We will need som articulate and adept diplomacy at hand. We could expect our trade balance to improve if the dollar holds a bit longer and as most of our overseas partners become enmeshed in similar problems. Don't count on the dollar holding up for long, not at the rate we are making news ones. Dollars are notes, a fiat currency. They devalue or grow just like stocks. This is an excellent time to consider silver and gold in my opinion. Natural gas looks very good now. It would be the time to consider gas, before the harder part of winter sets in. Commodities in general have become more affordable as the world deflates. Whether the largesse of the government is simply putting gasoline on the fire as some would contend, or the sheer weight of the inflationary steps they have taken truly does balance the deflationary forces, we have yet to see. I believe it stands a chance. However, we will need all the hope we can muster and we will need to spread it around.

Guest Blogger #1

2008-10-16T19:30:00.000-07:00

The following concise comments come from friend Jim Menges, fellow ex-patriate, accomplished international businessman, and skilled artist. Within a few phrases he captures the rant of rants regarding the econo-mess we are in the midst of. His short piece comes complete with profane yet suitable adjectives for greedy AIG execs and the naked short sellers cum Lehman Brothers' killers. He also touches on the extraordinary deflation of confidence (which is the true root of our problem and an unwelcome gift of Bush's regulatory breakdown, the incessant free market mantra. Finally, the reader of the following should not regard his closing sentence as a case of being glib. For certain he has not been any more glib then Paulson has been with his mid-stream switch of horses in the construction of the so-called recovery program. I have little doubt that the treasury, the fed, and all the other King's horses are a necessary evil. However, if we are to regain any level of sustainable confidence, we are going to need systemic changes in our antiquated financial system. In other words, we better learn how to use necessary tools (like "laws") to practice what we preach.

We have arguably redirected the course of the good ship America in a way that is irreversible. To what extent the rush to government succor in this crisis sets us in the direction of our European cousins we cannot yet know. We can only know that the more we see unfolding, the more we lose confidence. We can also know that much of Europe lives with extraordinarily high taxes, suppressed creativity, lost entrepreneurialism, a nearly non-existent meritocracy, and a severely declining lifestyle. I hope we survive the onslaught and emerge whole again. Somewhere in between opening the doors to the Gordon Gecko-ish (greed is good) bastards via unchecked financial "innovation", a complete breakdown in the regulatory system, and now a newly socialized banking industry, there must emerge a balance somewhere that preserves what was...as Mr. Menges writes it..."once the only remaining superpower". Then again, maybe there is not a mid ground. Maybe its all too little and too late. If so we may as well all learn how to call a grilled cheese sandwich a "croque monsieur" and wear jackets draped over our shoulders. - Simplifried

Nota Bene:

Market volatility will still be the action du jour for a while - possibly until the end of the year. First and last hour of trading is going to be excessive and dramatic - up or down. Right now there is a lot of forced selling from hedge fund redemption's as billions of dollars are pulled out of the market - which could continue for another 2 months. Since mutual find redemption's are done at the end of trading, I believe it is what is making the last hour move so much. Possibly some good bargains to get if you can stomach the volatility - oil dropping down below $70 per barrel projects a doomed economy, while giving a bigger tax cut to Americans than all of Obama's and McCain's proposals put together. Mixed blessings for an already confused market. Next week I think AIG is suppose to pay off the cock sucking scum-bag naked short seller's Credit Default Swaps that were used in part to destroy Lehman Brothers - those crooks who destroyed the bank will get their hefty insurance payoff, which may be as much as $100B...(add that to the already ridiculous amout the gov paid to bail out AIG and pay for thier crooked management's bonus and spa hot tub holidays.) Not sure how it will impact the market, but when the story gets out, it will cause sentiment anxiety and more frustration to an already pissed off public. Public sentiment seems to be crashing lower and lower each day, as people grasp what has happened to their 401K accounts, see mortgage interest rates continue to go up as the banks get their capital base rebuilt, and foreclosures continue to out pace any other housing statistic...the worst Xmas expected in 20 years (unless "Face Lift" Pelosi rallies the Dem Congress for a year end stimulus package of more welfare checks for America - Merry Socialist Christmas) as the sun sets on what was once the only remaining super power. Have a nice day. - Jim Menges, Oct 16, 2008

Are you ready?

2008-10-11T00:09:00.000-07:00

At last, some common sense

2008-10-08T20:40:00.000-07:00

I know I have been silent for quite a long time and much has happened since previous posts. I'll be frank, I lost my way a bit. I was indecisive about the bail-out program. While I had deep misgivings about it, especially the moral hazard (a phrase that is fast becoming cliche) of appearing to bail out miscreant bankers, and the burden it seemed to pose on tax payers. However, I also began to understand the sheer weight of the breakdown in the credit market and what that would pose in the way of consequences to all of us. Insofar as the anecdotes arising out of the maelstrom...such as AIG executives on a boondoggle running up largest bills for spa services, a full two weeks after their bailout....well, any of you would know what I think of that. I am glad the FBI is involved and I hope that those responsible will see the inside of a prison cell. Still, anger is much akin to fear. I was feeling both.

The N.Y. Times has broken a story today that I think may hold some potential for a great step in the right direction. To quote the story:

"Having tried without success to unlock frozen credit markets, the Treasury Department is considering taking ownership stakes in many United States banks to try to restore confidence in the financial system, according to government officials."

It goes on to note that the plan is in a preliminary form and it wasn't clear how it would work at this stage, but that it would likely be voluntary for those banks that avail themselves of it. This will bear watching. This is basically a recapitalization program on a huge scale. It also would have an immediate effect of a re approach to regulations in which the absence of has been a major element of enabling the massive credit crisis too begin with. Stephen Roach, the renowned Morgan Stanley economist and today the Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, was recently quoted as saying that failure to re-cpitalize the banks would mean that we wasted the bail out money. He has several other ideas too, including a much larger rate cut then the one announced today and coordinated throughout several nations. He states in a recent Financial Times article that

"In the end, this is not just a crisis of markets, financial institutions, risk management and regulators. It is a crisis of leadership. The authorities who gather in Washington this weekend should be locked in a room until they come up with a true global fix for this mother of all global crises. Incrementalism and failure are not an option."

Frankly, the idea that all those rows of regulations and laws on the law school book shelves have not existed for decades, and that "free markets" should be equal to an unfettered financial industry is a myth, and one that is particularly disingenuous. Regulations and controls are a cornerstone of civilization. The simple fact is that wholesale deregulation does not work, any more then does, say...ethnic cleansing.
We can throw money ineffectively at the problems in the name of defending free enterprise or we can use our brains, admit no perfect system ever existed or exists today, and the universe was no more ideally conceived by Adam Smith than Mao. American mores must shed the isolation and hubris that has crept into it's bloodstream via the twin catalysts of antipathy and eogism so carefully cultured by the new right policies of Reaganomics and it's hybridized spin off of the Bush era (just add large doses of fear mongering and greed).

If this crisis has awakened us from our slumber and given this thinking a sharp slap in the face, then we may be experiencing a cleansing, or at least a catharsis, that future historians may call a moment of salvation.

The plan roughly described in the NY Times article is a good step in the right direction. It is fascinating in the sense that I find it to be totally at odds with the Bush doctrine (if there is such a thing). It suggests to me that in these final days, government is no longer following, in all cases, Dubya's lead.
It is about time that we address the present and more importantly, our precious future.

What??!! Stock Market Down Again?

2008-09-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

When it gets bleak that is when I want to laugh

2008-09-25T20:48:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember, humor has been my tool of choice, when faced with bad news or tough challenges. It isn't that I am a misanthrope, laughing at all the wrong moments. Instead, I mean to say that humor is often a tool for me to counter the effects on my brain of bad news, or a brewing storm of worry. Admittedlly, this has led to some observing that I have an inappropriate sense of humor. Still, I can state from experience, that I have managed to joke my way out of more then one sticky wicket, and I have been able to clear my head with humor in order to be more effective in dealing with problems that are weighty. Often these devices are silent and internal, simply humerous toughts. This can be a problem if I am particularly amused by my own humorous thought, and utter a giggle in the midst of a group consternation (aka cluster f**k). That usually leads me to utter a muffled sorry, and take a deep sigh to clear the amusement from my brain, which inevitably leads to uncontrollable laughter...the kind where if you're drinking something it comes out your nose, and forces you to retreat from the group that is standing around playing the "ain't it awful" game and looking at me like I am a shopping cart driving homeless person in the midst of a cocktail party at a Sotheby's auction review yelling "Hey, take my picture" at the Tattler photographer.

I am taking too long to introduce you to one of the funniest op-ed columns I've read in a long while. Considering that I read it after reading about all the political posturing going on in Washington while our "leaders" are supposed to be finding solutions, I would have to say it is one of the more valuable comic relief moments I have had in a long time. It came via NY Times columnist, Maureen Dowd. I like her acerbic style and her "anyone-is-fair-game" polemics. However, this time she recruited Aaron Sorkin (creative brain behind The West Wing) to "conjure" up a consultation between Obama and a respected former president. Check it out, it is well worth the read.

P.S. If you are unable to access the feature drop me a note and I'll email it to you.

P.P.S. Write to me and tell me about the last time you laughed so hard whatever you were drinking came out through your nose.

P.P.P.S. The part of the dialogue attributed to the distinguished ex - prez reminded me distinctly of a well known cartoon character. Anyone want to take a guess.

At last the outrage? Goodie, lets get it on!

2008-09-23T16:33:00.000-07:00

Don's recent message of outrage over the proposed $700 billion bailout of financial institutions hatched up by Paulson, Bernanke, and our administration was fairly typical of most that I have read from many diverse opinion makers. In fact, we are in the midst of a major bull market on "Outrage". No surprise here. If fed enough bullshit I assume you are going to start behaving like one...an angry one.
While it is currently being debated in congress, there has been much written in complaint about the plan and those seem to resonate amongst the letters to the editors as well.

Paulson's scheme is deceptively simple, buy up all of the crap derivatives that are constipating the system so that the credit pinch will be loosened up again. As always, the devil is in the details. The argument against the plan is that it bails out the very institutions that got us into this mess. (Along with many naive or willfully larcenous borrowers). These banks and investment houses are the creators, buyers, and sellers of what is known in financial parlance as derivatives. In addition, if this plan is set in montion, it isn't entirely clear how a repeat of the greed and avarice wouldn't simply repeat. There wil always be greed and avarice of course, but what have we learned that we might put in place to prevent these specific mistakes from being repeated?

Derivatives are financial instruments whose value changes in response to the changes in underlying variables. In the case of our mess, mortgages were pooled in large tranches which were used to issue Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS). The derivative nature of these securities is that their value is derived from the value of the underlying mortgages. There are various types of MBSs. The most common are Interest Only/Principal Only (IO/PO), Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs), and Commerical Mortgage Backed Securities (CMBSs). But there isn't a need to delve into these details here. An important point is that changes in interest rates can effect these derivatives in two distinct and contradictory ways. A reduction in interest rate will devalue the security (such as a CMO). An increase in rates will cause an extension of risk in the CMO. The value also drops because the cash flows must be discounted at a higher rate for a longer time to reflect that risk. These distinctions are even more pronounced between IOs and POs. In the case of POs, they are guaranteed the principal payments and offered a value at a discount (the spread). If the loan is paid in advance, the holders of POs receive their guaranteed payout just the same. Therefore they made their gains much quicker. IOs on the other hand, are clobbered by prepayments that occur when interest rates drop and refinance of the underlying mortgage, thus the prepayment, takes place. As a holder of the IO, you bear the risk of that happening, and are compensated for it in the discount structure. A side note to this is that IOs and POs are specifically intended to narrow the nature of an investor's bet. By breaking down a package of mortgages into two bets, the investor is able to choose which side of the interest rate forecast he believes in. This is the arguable value of constructing such derivatives. They allow the investment community a way to manage risk. Obviously it didn't work that way. That is mostly because all the way up the food chain, home buyers, mortgage brokers, consolidating banks, Wall Street Bankers, none of these are truly incentivized to care very much about the true valuation of the underlying mortgage, especially if the assumption is that property values are always rising.

The above is basically how sub-prime mortgages were packaged and sold to investors around the world. For eight years up to the Summer of 2007, we gorged on easy credit, (either as borrower, agent, loan packager, investor, or creditor) and excesses were rife. Mortgages written to non credit worthy individuals, with some written at 100% (and more) of the house value, were common. The rationale was the the lending institution was protected by the rapidly rising house values. The loan, it was thought, would never "turn over", meaning reach a value point where it no longer made sense to pay the mortgage. But as we all know now, it did. Now extend this to corporate borrowing. Over the past decade, the exponential growth of credit derivatives has created unprecedented amounts of financial leverage on corporate credit. Similar to the growth of subprime mortgages, the rapid rise of credit products required ideal economic conditions and disconnected the assessors of risk from those bearing the risk. (Imagine that..a cardinal rule in investing was broken by some of the top and most savvy investors in the world. The Lehman Bros. company and their ilk of Wall Street investment banks, The AIG insurance company, the Fannie Mae and Freddy Mac loan guarantee corps. all broke this cardinal rule.) Not only that, the deals were so complex, that no one can say for sure what the underlying values of these derivatives were, then, or now. (Which is why we should ve very dubious of the $ 700 billion figure.) So when liquidity dried up, and there was no market for these unknown derivatives, causing even more credit strictures all over the world, and extending into other areas of credit including student loans, and the meltdown is on. It is so severe that banks do not even want to loan to each other, unsure what the borrower's actual value should be. Enter the Fed and their money printing machine. Enter higher commodity prices (which are valued in dollars). Enter slowing of business, fewer jobs, etc etc.
So do these banks deserve to be bailed out, with the latest plan from the Bush government to buy up $700B of this crap with taxpayer money we don't have yet?
To me, this sounds like adding gasoline to the fire. But we are once again being led by fear. The fear vision coming from the Bush administration is basically the risk of an all out depression. Loss of jobs, dramatically reduced spending power, (all of these things are happening anyway). In other words, if we don't pay it forward, we will suffer the consequences of further precipitating a crisis beyond anyones control. I am getting sick and tired of this negative incentives (scred if you do, screwed if you don't). I am sick and tired of the Bin Laden images, and the excuses as to why we can't get him. I am sick and tired ...full stop.
So now the question becomes one of whether we believe this threat and believe in the solution. I have to be honest and say I do not know for sure, but obviously I smell old fish. It isn't within my capacity to perceive the threat anymore then I can perceive the solution. It sounds to me like being between the proverbial rock and hard place, which is exactly the kind of leverage Bush likes to have to get his way. I want to say "fuck you" to the whole deal and ask them to vacate the White House early. Good Riddance to bad rubbish. The thing that I know for sure is that it pisses me off that Bush will still get his pension, along with the rest of his gang. I think he owes us. I think he owes some jail time too.
It is also likely that the senior people at the banks, who perceived of this travesty, and ignored common sense at the very thing they are supposed to do best, will still walk away with pockets full of obscene pay and bonus packages, even as their workers are laid off in droves and Manhattan starts to look empty.

For a far better read on this topic I urge you to visit today's Paul Farrell column on Marketwatch. He has been on a steady diet of gall for some time now, and it hasn't affected his astute observational or writing skills. In the meantime, keep your powder dry. It is far to risky, in my opinion, to be in the market today, with perhaps the exception of tucking away some gold. And remember, the best way to express your outrage is to drive Bush, and anyone who even remotely sounds, looks, or smells like him, out of office in November.

Did I say Sleaze?

2008-09-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

The following linked story was released in "The Nation" on their web site. (I think they should change their name to "The Nation...Tarnation") The article may lead to a considerable chink bitten out of Mr. McCain's armor if shown to be true. It could even draw blood. Pulitzer prize winning author & reporter Sydney Schanberg's ("The Killing Fields") story is entitled "McCain and the POW Cover-up" It goes quite a bit beyond that part of the spectrum that would be occupied by "sleaze" and challenges McCain's integrity and honor in a way that I think cannot be ignored. I'll mention also that there is already a debate in blog land over the accuracy of the story. I'll let you be the judge, but I recommend reading follow-up to the story before whistling your tune on this one. I am not sure why, as I admire Schanberg, and I am not especially a fan of McCain's as you know, but this story doesn't quite resonate for me. Perhaps it raises some embedded defense in me that comes from a barely tolerable loss. The loss of innocence, and the declining shine of what was once our country. I wish for some spit & polish, and not another layer of the onion to peel, drawing ever more close to the stench of it's core. So I almost hope that it isn't true. Between this and a $700 billion bail-out proposal ($2,304.00 for each man, woman, and child in the USA per July, 08 estimates) by the Bush gang and the state of the union just seems to continue to slide.

As I said, I'll let you be the judge as the debate unveils and I would very much like some other opinions here.

Solutions amidst the chaos

2008-09-17T20:07:00.000-07:00

This week's feverish activity within the global financial community and the continued vanishing of equity world wide, including the breaking of the dollar by one of the leading money market fund managers, has underscored how dire the credit crisis is. Amidst all the chaos, hand wringing, and worry, we need to remember that all this is coming to a head as the election approaches. We also need to remember that we are still a globe at war with combative and polarized interests on every populated continent. Our votes, if this is possible, are even more important then any in or lifetimes.
What are the candidates saying about the credit crisis? Sadly, not very much other then the usual blame game (greedy bankers, etc. etc.) As has often been the case I find more to chew on from the fourth estate then from the sound bites and carefully worded releases from campaign headquarters. No particular feat of thinking and planning has been demonstrated by either candidate in my opinion, but McCain wins the prize for the banal comments he has made: he wants to form a "commission" and oh, by the way, he has faith in the resilience of Americans.
Admittedly, from the press there is usually as much to toss out with the used coffee grounds then there is to digest, so any such food for thought must be selectively added to our plates. But then, none of us want to think of ourselves as the TV mesmerized Joe six-pack, or the bedazzled and fanatic religous zealot, or the simply undernourished third-worlder, that all together make up the vast majority of fellow passengers on this planet.
So forgetting for the moment that the headlines today include the fact that Yemen isn't up to the task of securing foregin assets on their land (surprise surprise), and that U.S. diplomatic missions are in Pakistan and Afghanistan in an attempt to reconcile recent unilateral initiatives taken on these same sovereign lands, I want to highlight a column that to me makes sense. With one exception from the list of the following financial columnist, I felt that there was a great deal of common sense amongst the ideas of how to go forward. I'll leave it to you to guess which idea I wasn't keen on.

Does McCain or Obama get it?