Yes, Sam you are sooo right.  It is stupid to think Madoff’s money is here when half of Argentina(the one who has some spare money at the moment,) is shipping it abroad in USD to escape the fangs of a lunatic administration.  What intrigued me in Rometo’s post was the mention of Argentina.  Look, I have talked with Rometo on the phone, I shared some of my fears about our national future, considering that for the first time in my adult life, I am unable to flee the country, just because I have a 90+ old father who refuses to leave his home.  It’s a no-win situation, but I still think & try to foresee what to do next.

That was all, just curiosity.  Whoever tries to find an antisemitic bias in my words, look elsewhere, please.  If you ladies or gents so preoccupied by the Holocaust wonder, let me refer you to Mr Daniel Baremboim (an argentine born israeli, one of the best conductors in the world ) a jew, a humanitarian & a unique talent, whatever he says on the subject, I adhere to. Amen.

Not really, what I’d like to know is 1) why Rometo associates Madoff with Argentina 2) in a serendipitous way I always fel the Big M has somehow argie conexions, shoot me if I know why 3) I discussed this hunch with my first bosses (a jewish couple) back in November, knowing my long history in "hunches" they say, OK you may be right, let’s run some tests with people we know.  That was all.  Argentina is at present in a great turmoil, drugs & money laundering are the biggest issues, plus corruption in government+urban violence+increase in drugs consumption+inflation+unemployment , the works.  I don’t know how many gentiles or jews were involved with the Big M, but I know many argies were.  My lawyer friends in town tell me many very well known people (of both persuasions) are going beserk on this issue.  I don’t give a s….. what religion they profess, as far as I am concerned all people involved in shady financial schemes should be brought to justice.  We must know who they are, no matter where they come from.  The money is gone, right???? Probably for good. Let us find the culprits.

Worldwide, OK???

Joan , you were certainly fortunate to have Mr Bellville as your friend. I had read his obit in The Guardian some days ago.  You know, I frequently read them in the Daily Telegraph or The Guardian or the Times because  the Brits seem to have lots of larger than life characters,whose lives, full of adventures, eccentricities, loves & talented works seem so exciting if one considers the paltry lot of today’s celebrities.  One gets the feeling of lives lived with gusto, courage & a sense of humour. Hope to be remembered somehow along those lines.

Godspeed Mr B!!!

You better don’t trust the UN just a big bureaucratic entity full of silly clerks with no power whatsoever.

A costly non-entity, bound to nowhere.  Let’s pray for her is far more useful at this time.

Ms Desai is right.  When you are in India you soon realize that it’s the women who keep families/towns & whole districts alive.  While it is a common sight those blobs of colour their saris provide moving gracefully either on the fields or the markets, the men are sprawled on charpoys listening to music/drinking chai or beer or even stronger spirits (when they can afford them) all day long.  One wonders how long it will take for them to lighten up their load, it seems hopeless right now. The miracle is they keep on doing it for the sake of their families, strong & uncomplaining, day in day out……

Yes.  It reminds me of what I saw in the then Soviet Union, circa 1985.It was towards the end of their  unsuccessful Afghan War.  We spent about 3 weeks in the country (familiarization trip for Travel Agents, no politics involved) & did a lot of flying inside the USSR.  Thus, we got to see line after line of gurneys & coffins being unloaded from military carriers out of the sight of the population, but they knew anyway & were furious about how the government was lying about the horror of their defeat.  Hiding the dead & wounded is never a good policy.