This is a Very Great Opportunity!

Tea: Chinese Melon Seed

Music: The Beatles, "If I Fell"

Time: Night.

I'm trying to be optimistic here. Amid all the dire economic signs out there, I'm looking for indications that things could be worse.

I've found two.

One, India isn't outsourcing its tech support, telemarketing and debt collections services to us yet.

"Hello, is this Mr. VEYE-jay Sam ... um ... Sam ... SamaramPOOLmitsar?"

"Who is calling, please?"

"This is Duane, sir, and I'm calling from Citibank. We're showing a past due of five thousand rupees on the MasterCard account. Y'all need to make a payment."

"Oh, I am very sorry, this is Vijay's brother Krishna. He is away at present. But I do remember him mailing a check to you. Perhaps the postman has been devoured by a tiger. Yes, I am quite sure that is what has happened."

"Mr. SamaramPOOLmitsar, we do need to get a payment ... hello?"

That's not the last sign of economapocalypse, though. That comes when we have to start swindling Nigerians via e-mail.

"Hello, my trusted friend, my name is Billy Joe Bob George Washington. I am the son of a prominent Texas cattle billionaire. Unfortunately, we have lost almost everything since the government nationalized our cattle orchards. However, I was able to hide away 500 million naira but I cannot get it out of the country. So I come to you with a business proposition."

Hey, I'm pretty good at that. Looks like I have a future occupation if I need one ...