Markets not in everything

Not content with blocking MSN messenger, facebook gifts, oh, and my linkedin account...

The U.S. Government has in place export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations, which prohibit U.S. companies, like LinkedIn, from engaging in certain transactions with persons from several designated countries, including <<INSERT COUNTRY HERE>>.

...it seems US sanctions have now blocked Ethiopian Airlines from accepting online credit card payments from Southern Sudan (I managed to do this in March). So I can't book my flight home to the UK for christmas.

Thanks America. Happy Christmas to you too. I hope those sanctions are working.

America, with a population of 300 million, is one of the fattest countries of the world, with a frighteningly awful perception of poor countries, aggravated by a befuddled, profit-driven media.

Quote of the Day

Comes from Matt at Aidthoughts.

All articles/comments about America must now be appended with the following background description for those who can't find America on a map: 

"America, with a population of 300 million, is one of the fattest countries of the world, with a frighteningly awful perception of poor countries, aggregated by a befuddled, profit-driven media."

Is it a bird, is it a plane,,,

I'm as Obama-crazy as the next guy. I even have the t-shirt and poster from Customs market to prove it.

But I can't help worrying about what a let-down he's inevitably going to be and how terrible its going to be. I don't care if he's charming the pants of every rogue state going, I don't think anyone can be that good.

This great excerpt from Hunter Thompson reminds us how bad it was last time.