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L’Emirat de Dubaï, touché de plein fouet par la crise financière et économique, a prévenu jeudi 26 novembre qu’une des plus grandes entreprises du pays ne pourra pas rembourser une partie de sa dette. Cette annonce a fait l’effet d’une bombe sur les places financières du monde entier.

Dubaï a demandé à ses investisseurs financiers, qui représentent quelques 70 banques, d’échelonner la dette de son conglomérat Dubai World et d’instaurer un moratoire de six mois sur son paiement. Ce conglomérat contrôle Nakheel, le géant de l’immobilier, qui a su profiter du boom économique et immobilier de ces dernières années en allant jusqu’à l’excentrique. Un de ses projets les plus célèbres est l’île artificielle en forme de palmier, Palm Islands où les milliardaires du monde entier se sont précipités pour acheter leur villa. On peut aussi citer la tour la plus haute du monde (891 mètres), ou encore la construction d’une station de ski artificielle en plein désert. Aujourd’hui Nakheel est en incapacité de rembourser les 3,5 milliards qu’il doit.

La dette totale de Dubaï est estimée à 80 milliards de dollars en 2008. Les compagnies publiques accaparent 70 milliards de dollars, et Dubaï World, 59 milliards.

Les agences de notation financière, Moody’s et Standard and Poor’s, ont pris la décision, presque immédiate, de rétrograder respectivement six et cinq entreprises publiques de Dubaï. En baissant leur note, les prêts qu’elles doivent rembourser vont donc augmenter.

Les indices boursiers des quatre coins du monde ont décrochés et ont perdu en moyenne près de 3%. Le CAC 40 a chuté de 3,41%. Mais si l’Emirat fait vraiment faillite, les banques européennes pourraient en pâtir et perdre quelques 5 milliards d’euros selon le Crédit Suisse, car elles possèderaient 13 milliards d’euros de dette de Dubaï. Seraient concernées, BNP Paribas, Calyon, UBS, Lloyds et HSBC.

La situation de Dubaï pourrait s’aggraver dans la mesure où cet Emirat produit peu de pétrole, qui représente seulement 5% de son PIB. Le cheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktou a décidé de diversifier son économie en misant sur l’immobilier, le tourisme et l’industrie du luxe, des secteurs qui en temps de crise, sont les premiers touchés. Depuis quelques mois les constructions se sont arrêtées, l’arrivée de nouvelles liquidités a été stoppée et les entreprises du bâtiment ne seraient plus payées. Les investissements de l’Emirat à l’étranger ont eux aussi souffert de la crise, aux Etats-Unis notamment.

Le cheikh a donc tenté de rassurer ces créanciers en affirmant que les fondamentaux de l’économie n’était pas touchés. Dubaï bénéficie encore d’un taux de croissance de 5% en 2009, mais très net recul par rapport à 2008 où il avait atteint 14%.

L’annonce du gouvernement de Dubai concernant la restructuration de Dubai World ne présage cependant rien de bon. Si le conglomérat ne trouve pas d’accord avec ses créanciers, il devra céder des actifs à l’étranger. Abou Dhabi, l’Emirat voisin, producteur de 90% du pétrole des Emirats, et grand investisseur, pourrait venir aider Dubaï qui représente une vitrine internationale pour toute la région.

La crise à Dubaï

* Soms is het leuk in De Boîte. Vandaag werd ons een heel pakket Red Bull Energy Shots toegestuurd. Of de Kuikens nu effectief eens gewerkt hebben dankzij de drank wiens geur mij altijd doet denken aan die antibiotica die ge als kind moest nemen en waar ge elke dag een microbeke mocht uitprikken weet ik niet. Ik heb mijn Energy Shot gepakt en ben vertrokken. Overuren opnemen, wetenie. Maar ik heb wel nog eerst een ‘luxepraline’ in mijn mond gestoken, want ook de Lidl vond vandaag de perfecte dag om ons wat goodies op te sturen. Over dat ‘luxe’ valt wel te discussiëren, maar ge moogt een gekregen paard niet in de bek kijken naar het schijnt.
* De geplande voorraadkast-die-eerst-uitgemest-moest-worden heeft de taak op zich genomen. De oude frigo, waarvan ik al acht jaar dacht dat het een Smeg is, ook. Maar het is dus geen Smeg eigenlijk, ontdekte ik vandaag. Hoezo, het ding in geen acht jaar afgewassen? Het is niet dat het nog werkte he, of dat het een duidelijk doel had vóór vandaag, behalve stof staan vergaren. Wedden dat ons moeder morgen binnenspringt en zegt dat ik die frigo eens zou moeten afwassen?
* Ik heb bij het uitmestenvan de snoepkast een pak Kings gevonden dat maar goed was tot 2002. “Wóónden wij hier toen eigenlijk al wel?” was de niet zo heel onterechte vraag van de sidekick. Ik zal mijzelf ten gepaste tijde daarvoor straffen zene, gene paniek.
* Het vorige impliceert dat ik Grote Boodschappen heb gedaan om de volgende maand tijd uit te sparen wat betreft korte shoppingtrips. Ik heb die met haar twee dingen voorgelaten aan de kassa. Uit compassie. Die staat daar morgen terug voor nog eens twee dingen, de arme trien. Ik niet zene! Maar ik heb wel mijn zetels moeten platleggen en hier en daar wat puzzelen. Eigenlijk heb ik dus in het kader van efficiënt timemanagement een grotere auto nodig. Time is money.
* Mijn lief heeft daarjuist kwaad gezegd dat ik belachelijk bezig was en ik moest daarmee lachen. Maar ik vind het wel treurig dat niemand mijn zwarte humor begrijpt. Zelfs als ik lastig ben, loop ik nog te zeveren en moppen te tappen, maar niemand schijnt dat te kunnen vatten. Humor, was dat niet het überteken van intelligentie?
* Snoop was bij de noorderburen en ik wist het niet. Dat zuigt nogal.
* Ik heb gisteren alle achterstallige Californications gezien en nu vertoon ik ontwenningsverschijnselen. Ik zou ze vandaag nog eens allemaal terug willen bekijken, maar dan gaat er iemand vinden dat ik belachelijk bezig ben en er de humor niet van inzien. Hoewel hij gisteren ook heel hard dicht lag toen Moody over een plantenbak viel.
* Blondine en ik hebben op Facebook een heel mysterie opgezet over Thais gazettenpapier. It’s almost a hype. En dan hebben we en plein public nog met geen woord gerept over dat andere project. We so rule. Bescheidenheid is geen teken van intelligentie. Weten wat ge waard bent wel. Sms’en over erotic nuts ook.
* La mama is officieel kankervrij. Ik ga daar ene op drinken binnenkort. Eén van die dertien flessen wijn die ik blijkbaar in huis had zonder het te weten.
* De uitspraak “Dat verdient een pruim” vond ik wel te pruimen.

Like Someplace I’ve Been Before

Abstracts… the area in between familiar and unfamiliar space.  It’s that place that conjures dreams that you just can’t quite remember. Déjà vu and premonitions could happen here.  A space that is familiar enough to make you start thinking, but not so familiar as to let you off the hook. If you’re going to think here, you’re going to have to struggle through to the answers, if there are any.

Maybe that’s why so many people, myself included, find abstracts difficult. Because for me, perhaps more than any other style of art, the story in abstract art is more dreamlike and less narrative. It either grabs you out of the gate or it doesn’t. Maybe abstract art is more about the story that YOU (the viewer) bring to it.  

When I finished this one, the little artist’s voice in my head said “It’s done!” but my logical, left-brained side spoke up and said “It can’t be done! Where are the shapes? Where is the pattern? There is nothing here!”

But through this process I have learned to let the little artist’s voice be louder. And I have also discovered that for me, all my paintings start as an image, as daring colour splotches while the story and thinking come after.

Another shining example of how punting on property can be bad for your health – even for highly paid “experts”. And of course, totally missed by Moody’s and S&P, but who was quick to rush in after the announcement to put a few more bullets into the still warm corpse of Dubai World, and pushing other government-linked entities’ rating into junk status.

From WSJ “Dubai World seeks debt standstill”

This debt-laden city-state said Wednesday it would restructure its largest corporate entity, Dubai World, a conglomerate spanning real estate and ports, and announced a six-month standstill on the group’s debt.

The surprise move quickly sapped investor confidence in Dubai ’s ability to pay down its large debt load, sharply increasing the price of insuring against a default. It also represents the most significant fallout so far in the city-state’s yearlong economic crisis, triggered by a collapse in its once-booming real-estate sector late last year.

In response to the news, both Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s heavily downgraded the debt of various Dubai government-related entities with interests in property, utilities, commercial operations and commodities trading. In Moody’s case, the downgrade meant that the affected agencies lost their investment grade status.

It sounds like Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, may be just a wee bit pissed at Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Dubai World’s longtime chairman, going by the government’s direct participation in the restructuring. One wonders if the Deloitte’s restructuring might actually reveal some real muck on the board – e.g. harem luxury yatchs christened “Tits III”, or private jets complete with pole dancing stewardesses.

The government of Dubai said it appointed Deloitte LLP to spearhead the restructuring effort, naming an executive at the consultancy as the group’s “chief restructuring officer.” The move appeared to sideline, at least for the time being, the company’s current management team, which had launched an internal corporate restructuring earlier this year.

Government officials, company executives and company representatives weren’t available for comment Wednesday. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Dubai World’s longtime chairman and a top lieutenant to Dubai’s hereditary ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, didn’t respond to an email request for comment.

A spokeswoman for the Dubai government’s Department of Finance, which issued the statement, said Sulayem and the rest of the current management team would remain in place and would be working with Deloitte. [Comment: Not for long]

Dubai World executives have “actually been trying to restructure themselves for awhile, and the Dubai government decided it needed to take a more proactive role,” the spokeswoman said late Wednesday.

The government said its Financial Support Fund, a fund set up to manage Dubai’s debt earlier this year, would start to assess and evaluate the extent of the restructuring required. As part of that assessment, it said officials intend to ask lenders for a debt “standstill” and request they extend debt maturities until at least May 30.

Dubai said the corporation’s portfolio includes “strategically important businesses” and said “the restructuring will be designed to address financial obligations and improve business efficiency for the future.”

Most immediately, the standstill will affect a $3.5 billion bond that Dubai World’s real-estate subsidiary, Nakheel, was scheduled to repay next month. The bond was seen as a crucial test of Dubai ’s ability to pay its debts, amid a real-estate market crash that has ricocheted across the emirate’s once-booming economy. Dubai World this spring signaled a restructuring of the bond was an option, but hasn’t provided details since.

The cost of insuring Dubai debt, which had fallen sharply amid signs of a global economic recovery, shot higher after the announcement, rising by more than a third by late Wednesday, to $429,700 to insure a $10 million loan for five years, according to CMA, a credit-information specialist.

The announcement came just hours after Dubai said separately that it raised $5 billion from two local banks, the second installment of what officials had said would be a $20 billion borrowing program. The bond program was unveiled in February, with the federal government of the United Arab Emirates snapping up the entire first tranche.

The bonds were effectively a federal bailout by the U.A.E., led by oil-rich Abu Dhabi, the country’s capital. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are the biggest of seven semiautonomous emirates that make up the U.A.E.

Since then, Dubai officials have suggested they would seek international investors to fund the remaining $10 billion. Dubai says it is using the funds to pay down international debt and unpaid bills to contractors.

Wednesday’s $5 billion funding announcement initially cheered analysts and investors. While the issue’s two lenders were both Abu Dhabi-controlled banks, the deal suggested to many that Dubai was able to go to sources besides the federal government for cash. An earlier, unrelated debt issue by Dubai in October was also oversubscribed.

This reminds me: I might want to watch the ongoing bond issues from Temasek.

So I’ve got my good underwear on again… it’s time to see Pascal the Acupuncturist tonight!! I must say I feel like I need to see him, it’s been a long week and I’m looking forward to relaxing and chilling out for a bit!

My boss’ daughter had a wee boy the other day and I was invited to look at the photo’s etc. My boss when telling me how chuffed he is said “I can’t describe it, you’ll not know what it feels like until it happens to you”. My eyes were stinging with tears trying to break out and my throat felt like it’d been clamped shut. I got a dull stabbing pain in my chest and could only nod at him in agreement. I really could have screamed “No shit Einstein! You know I’m trying to experience that for myself, why oh f*cking why would you say such a thing to me you insensitive twat”!

Needles to say I wasn’t in too great a mood after that, coupled with the fact that AF is imminent and I’ve got PMS from hell!

You know I get so angry with myself month after month. I mean how could I have been so stupid yet again to think that maybe this month I will be pregnant and AF won’t show. Why oh why do I constantly ride this rollercoaster and believe “this” month it’ll happen?? You’d think by now I’d have learned my lesson but oh no I keep coming back for more!

I’m going to make that appointment with my GP for next week and see if she can help refer me for further tests re my luteal phase. I’m 9 DPO today and think my period will either come today or tomorrow morning so my LP isn’t long at all. If she even tries to fob me off I may committ murder… I’m a donkey on the edge!!! ;o)

It has been a while since I’ve watched a band at a small venue and have been really blown away by the dramatics of the performance. Smoke machine and strobe light aside, Io, singer/writer for Io Echo, had me instantly crushing on her dark moody lyrics and incredible voice, not to mention her theatrical moves and blinding bangs. Accompanied by thrashing guitarist/producer, Leopold Ross, and an equally talented back up band band, this relatively new act is definitely one that needs to be seen live.

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]]> http://ssbcworshipministry.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/hymnology-it-is-well-with-my-soul/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:46:57 +0000 John Gardner http://ssbcworshipministry.wordpress.com/2009/11/21/hymnology-it-is-well-with-my-soul/

On November 21, 1873, the steamship Ville du Havre sank while crossing the Atlantic, resulting in the deaths of 246 passengers. This included all four daughters of Horatio Spafford, who had already lost one child and his earthly fortune just two years earlier. His response to all this tragedy was to trust God, finding peace in Him. As he crossed the Atlantic to grieve with his wife, he penned a poem near the wreckage of his daughters’ ship, which became the hymn It Is Well With My Soul when set to music by Philip Bliss, who was the partner of evangelist D.L. Moody.

Here is a short clip about the life of Horatio Spafford:

Monday, November 16, 2009 [15:47:16]

Drawn and asphixiated unto the emptiness of a blank stare to a black wallet.

Napkins beside it, followed by either a half full or half empty glass of chocolate milk, depending on your preferance.

Secretly paying attention through obscure techniques to recognize any hopeful attention I’m recieving.

Wondering if it’s possible to really be happy with one person, never having an urge to be unloyal or to ‘cheat’.

Glad I havn’t gone passed a line like a role model.

Thankful.

Every fucking time I read his shit, too.

In a way I’m jealous.

But not for the publicity (which is weird – I’m an only child.)

For the story.

For the experience.

The end.

Just knowing, anyways.

He doesnt have to ride the roller coaster.

Up.

Down.

Around.

Up.

Back down.

He knows.

It doesnt matter if he (also, the reader,) is happy.

Feeling ignorant, or like a neusance.

Rushing someone.

Even if I’m not.

Wishing we were best friends so I wouldnt have to beg for answers as a stranger.

Wondering what he thinks about me, anyways.

iya darah saya sedang menyirap sekarang ni..
geram..bengang..tension…
saya tak pernah kurang ajar dengan awak ok
yang awak buat kurang ajar dengan saya ni kenapa?
hangat hati betullah macam ni…

Author: Octavia E. Butler
Title: Kindred
Publication Date: 1979 (original), 2003 (anniversary edition)
Number of Pages: 264
Genre: Science Fiction, African-American Literature
Geographical Setting: Los Angeles, California in 1976 and the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1810-1835
Time Period: June-July 1976 simultaneous with 1810-1835
Series: N/A

Plot Summary: Dana Franklin is a modern Black woman in the Civil Rights Era, married to a white man, who is inexplicably pulled back through time to the antebellum South to save the life of Rufus Weylin, an ancestor of hers who also happens to be a white slaveowner.  Dana is pulled back time after time, and must ensure that her family line can happen, no matter what the cost.

Subject Headings: Ancestors,  Rescues,  Interracial couples,  Time travel (Past),  African-American women,  Slavery — Maryland,  Slaveholders,  Maryland — History — 19th century,  Maryland — History — 20th century,  African-American fiction — 20th century,  Science fiction, African-American

Appeal: compelling, densely written, steady, closely observed, strong secondary characters, lifelike, description of slave life in antebellum time period, vivid, episodic, issue-oriented, time travel, nonlinear, detailed setting, rural, evocative, chilling, moody, emotionally-charged, earnest, dramatic, earthy, direct

Three terms that best describe this book: Mind-teasing, Involving, Heartfelt

Similar Authors and Works (Fiction): The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin (similar to Butler’s last novel, good segue between authors)
He, She and It by Marge Piercy (set in post-apocalyptic future, like Butler’s Parable books, similar tone)
Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card (themes of slavery and redemption, affecting one person’s life to affect a timeline)

Similar Authors and Works (Nonfiction): Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball (nonfiction about slavery and the American South, from a family point of view)
Doers of the Word: African American Women Speakers and Writers in the North (1830-1880) by Carla L. Peterson (African-American women willing to speak out, like Dana, only not fictionalized)
The Women who Raised Me: A Memoir by Victoria Rowell (a look at the matriarchal society of African-Americans, could have grown out of the split families slavery caused)

Name: Anne

In molti economisti, dal Fmi all’Ocse, si sono detti pronti a scommettere su un ritorno alla crescita di questi Paesi prima del mondo occidentale.

Gli esperti dell’agenzia di rating internazionale hanno, infatti, migliorato l’outlook sul rating di Cina e di Hong Kong, portandolo a positivo dal precedente stabile.

Il successo dei rispettivi governi di questi due paesi nell’affrontare la crisi mondiale è alla base dalla decisione degli analisti.

Per quanto riguarda la Cina l’agenzia di rating ha deciso di cambiare l’outlook – il rating rimane pari ad A1 – alla luce dell’andamento robusto dell’economia in un periodo di turbolenza come quello dell’anno scorso.

Fonte:
http://www.finanzaonline.com/notizie/news.php?id={19612DBB-297C-4772-A61E-EFD43ECE169A}

Life is weird recently, have my mood swings, had my fights, still not able to let go, friends cant be too close is it true? i cannot control anymore.

Everything seems to be someone tat is controlling, seems to be back to my bad old days, days when i only wanna escape, escape from the reality, escape from this fucking world.

When i watch 2012, those typical end of the world show, wondering if one day end of the world will come, will i still think tat life is worthless.

Gotta give my room a new look…gonna throw a love of rubbish away not going to keep rubbish…

Photos sometimes only tell part of  the story,but I find the contrast between these two to be interesting.

Both are dynamic stars with larger than life personalities and legions of fans.

What do you think is on Jay Z’s mind.

 He was caught in London with his wife, to attend the Royal fave Mahiki nightclub after a gig at the O2 arena to party until 3am with Rhianna.

A lot of things happened. More like there was some drama between Kay and I. Sometimes I wonder if I’m being too sensitive or paranoid, but then I’m a woman. Of course I’m sensitive to sudden changes and I want answers.

Last Saturday, a group of us went photo shooting at an event in Bangsar. Kay was there as usual and before the event started he was all fine and normal, teasing me as usual. And since I kind of know that he doesn’t really hang out with me much when his colleagues and other photographers are around, I hung out with other people. I met my bro-in-law there, and some other old friends and her guy friends. After the event and the next day, Kay acted weird. He didn’t sms me and when he replied, he was kind of cold. He didn’t call at all either. It made me wonder, was he jealous that I was flirting? If he was, why? Someone scolded me saying that Kay was jealous because he likes you. Yet Ash said it could be just jealousy because his plaything is being played by others and he was feeling possessive. As for me, I have no idea. I would like to think that he was jealous because he liked me. Kay told me once that he is like an open book. But to me, I feel he is sometimes fickle. It is as if he is trying to say something but he doesn’t want to tell me. He wants me to read his body language. And I do feel pressured because I don’t want him to think I’m stupid, yet at the same time I can’t read him. He confuses me.

I keep telling myself I shouldn’t subject myself to this shit. But when he calls, I turn to goo. I can’t help it. I think I have fallen too deep.

Anyway, Kay was cold to me. I asked him if he was angry at me, but he said “Nope, you’re thinking too much”. But seriously, his messages were all so unusual. Well, on Monday I messaged him, and he said “I’m not in office. I’m in East Malaysia now, remember?” Frankly, I didn’t remember when was he going there for work. Haha. Maybe he also assumed that and hence a subtle sarcastic remark. I messaged “When are you coming back? I miss you already”. After that message, Kay was partially back to normal. So correct me if I’m over-reading this.

Kay did call me last night, but he was kind of moody. I guess it’s his work and his boss that is dragging his mood down. I shall not be emo and think that he is being cold to me, since he did call me although he didn’t have to. I am not his girl anyway. Heck, I don’t even know where I stand. I do want to know. But I cannot force him to do or say something he isn’t ready to divulge.

Oh. And I fell down. Again. I sprained my right ankle just when my left ankle is recovering from a bad sprain. Sigh. I’m just too clumsy for my own good. Very soon Kay will think I’m a bimbo. Damn you Kay.

When you see that your teenager is excessively moody, don’t overlook this.  Try to communicate by talking and getting to the bottom of things.  Communicate often and spend family time together.  Sometimes bonding activities (such as going out together for dinner or a game etc) of a father and son and mother and daughter is also useful to break the silence.

Here is something that will, insha-Allah help:

Every night after your teenager is asleep for 3 nights only:

1. Read Durood Shareef (Salawaat ala an-Nabi sallAllahu alahye wasallam) 11 times.
2. Surat ul-Maa’oun 3 times and blow in the right ear.
3. Surat ut-Takaathur 3 times and blow in the left ear
4. Durood Shareef 11 times again

Dear J,

Thanks sweetcheeks.  You are just what I needed.  I am feeling really super moody today.  I don’t know what the deal is.  I am trying not to polish off the last little bit of spaghetti pie (it’s really a casserole because it’s not pie in my eyes unless it has a crust and sugar).  MIL made the dish so you know it’s delish. 

Right now I’m just friggin bored and thinking about my granddad (it’s coming up on that time of year) and crap, just not feeling all Christmassy and shit.  If I had Weight Watchers icecream bars, I would be all over that peanut butter idea.  Damn.  This is why we can’t live next to each other.  We’d be spoon-feeding one another from a chub of cookie dough.

I think instead of doing something I will regret, I will take a shower and get out of the house.  Thanks for lovin’ on me chica.  I needed it.  DH and I did make peace, by the way.  I’m still stinging though and need to just get over it.

Love,
A