T.I.A

I'm sure most of you have seen "Blood Diamond" at some point (Hot Leo, rugged mountain-man with an incredible colonial accent .... Jennifer Connelly, stunning and more beautiful than anyone could ever be -there, I said it). When Leo is describing how things are done in Africa, or the lawlessness that leaves the soil red with blood, he throws in the conveniently abbreviated "TIA."

This is Africa.

Luckily, this phrase (and its connotations) apply to Argentina as well.

This is Argentina.

There's even a Facebook group dedicated to it. Mostly funny, sometimes sad in how lamentable and true the entries are. It's a wonderful way to release the stress of living in a land where rules and laws apply about 70% of the time.

Here is a photo that a friend of mine here in BA took outside his office:

The caption reads: "Outside my office, typical Argie drivers play chicken at an intersection. Yes, there is a stop sign there. No, there was no accident in this scene... just almost 5."

We live in a comedy of errors. A house of cards! On the verge of collapsing with the slightest misstep. Somehow, things get done. Somehow, the country manages (more or less) to keep it together for just one more day. "Atalo con alambre" (Just tie it up with some cords) ... TIA.