On Currency Declarations

In Angola its not allowed to take local currency out out the country. I not sure why anyone would want to  - much like Yemeni riyals and Bangladeshi taka you will have a tough time finding a moneychanger  willing to exchange your kwanzas (buy or sell) for a more serious currency. The law mainfests itself with a currency declaration (and accompanying queue) each and every time you leave the country.
I'm curious to know the reasons why. Are these declarations designed to prevent large outflows of local currency? How would it benefit someone to carry local currency outside the country if they were unable to exchange it? Is it merely an artifact from an earlier time? Anyone know the reasoning?

political update

It was a bad week in Indonesian politics. At least it was for the politicians. Consider: last week Wanda Hamidah from PAN was caught up in a drug bust at the home of TV celebrity Raffi Achmad. More fool her. However the real news was the hilarious demise of Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq on corruption allegations along with the salacious arrest of his bag man, Ahmad Fathanan,  who was arrested wearing nothing but a surprised look in a Jakarta hotel. Whats makes this funny and ironic is that Pak Lufthi was hitherto chairman of the PKS or the local franchise of the muslim brotherhood in Indonesia. The same PKS that cloaked themselves in religious self-righteousness as the only party free from corruption. The same PKS that championed the pornography law. The same PKS whose parliamentary cadre was caught viewing pornography(on a government PC!) while sitting in on house deliberations. Oh how the pious have fallen.

Predictably the PKS brass have blamed everyone else for their erstwhile leader's poor judgement citing mysterious forces, foreign powers, and even the Joos.  I suppose when facts or evidence are not in abundance playing on the prejudices of the nation is the best that a desperate party can come up to save their sorry asses. I thought that I was a cynic but these guys must have tattooed  the insides of their eyelids with  HL Mencken's insight, (and I paraphrase here) "you can never go broke underestimating the intelligence or the American Indonesian public".

The only good news from all this is that with elections just around the corner there is some opportunity to rid the nation of the parasites who feed upon it. Hopefully Indonesians will demand more from their leaders then the cynical cloaked-in-piety lot that they are stuck with till 2014. Kudos too to the KPK who are ever so slowly landing bigger and bigger fish in the corrupt pool of Jakarta politics.


 

End of the world?

Well this seems pessimistic.

Based on the above forecast its probably time to get my things in order. On the other hand why bother? Wishing all the best of seasons greetings and a happy new year.

Sidelines

About a week before my vacation I managed to slip and fall ass over teakettle onto a concrete step. Luckily there was no permanent damage (apart from pride). The bruising ran from hips to ribs and has taken a very long time to heal. I'm almost mobile now after a week in the hotel and 3 weeks at the family home in Canada. Its certainly been a different experience watching things from the sidelines rather than being able to participate. Also I've learned a few things.

If you are going to spend some time convalescing its best to do it in a familiar environment. Its hard to beat family in this regard.

Having spent nearly 2 weeks bedridden I am so glad I splurged on the best bed I could afford 20 years ago. After all that time the mattress is still like sleeping in a warm cloud. Hurrah for the Sealy corporation.

I get very crabby and snarky when laid up. Another reason to stay with family.

TV programming in North America is positively suicidal. How many variations of reality show can one possibly explore? Between that, sensationalised news, docudramas, and talent shows I've been  reduced to watching reruns of Star Trek TOS on the space channel. Seems a pity that Gilligan's Island, Gomer Pyle and Batman are no longer available. At least those shows knew they were schlocky.

My hometown has been building a LRT (subway system)  for at least 35 years now. It still has yet to reach the west end. These guys could learn from the Pharaohs. If I'm not mistaken Cheops only needed 30 years to build a wonder that has stood for 4000 years.

If you are a school kid in this town homework is now optional - you won't be penalised for not doing it. Apparently this "no zero policy" is to help kids get through school without failing. Basically it just allows kids to bully the teachers. How this sort of philosophy is going to help prepare the next generation for their working careers is beyond me - if I were an employer I'd hire immigrants - those kids will be motivated.


Please let me back on the golf course.....Soon

 

Happy Thought For The Day

Just something I read on an A&W flyer.

"Imagine your happy place. Now, imagine it with bacon".

I feel better already.