Naturally, I assumed that my password was incorrect since it had been so long since I had logged in before, however, even after resetting the password, the messages remained the same.  “This Account has been suspended”

So, now it was on to customer support.  After three attempts to email customer service (since my first two attempts at contact went unreplied to), I finally received a message as to what was going on.  I was told:

The U.S. Government has in place export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations, which prohibit U.S. companies, like LinkedIn, from engaging in certain transactions with persons from several designated countries, including Sudan.

It is LinkedIn’s corporate policy to comply with laws and regulations of the United States and other countries where we do business. Failure to comply with U.S. export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations can result in criminal and civil fines and penalties, for both the Company and any individuals involved.

Now, this is nothing really new to me. While in Khartoum, I had found a number of US-based websites had similar restrictions when the country of Sudan is involved: one can’t download Google programs like Google Earth (but you can use it if it hadn’t been previously installed), certain video content sites can’t be accessed (like Hulu), and so on.

But, consider this. I live in Southern Sudan which does not have an in-country internet infrastructure (unlike the North of the Sudan like Khartoum). What this means, is that almost all internet is provided by outside companys that give you a satellite dish and then provide connectivity from another country’s allotment of IP addresses. So, while I am at work, it appears to the world that I am connecting from Kenya and when at my “house” it appears I am connecting from Uganda. So, why does LinkedIn think I am in the Sudan?

The only think I could think of is that I may have indicated in my job profile that I worked for a company that is based in Sudan (which is true – our DC-based company opened a “branch” in Sudan so that we could operated legally here).  In an effort to explain this to the customer service people at LinkedIn, I sent a lengthy explanation of how development companies work in places like Sudan, that I am an American citizen and that I am often not in Sudan (which, is a bit of a stretch, but not really since I head out for an R&R every 4 months or so).  I even sent a copy of my passport and birth certificate (yes, I keep copies on hand.  As we all should).

Their reply?  Classic:

Thank you for your reply. Once you have left Sudan, you will be able to use your account. Please message us at privacy@linkedin.com when you have changed location.

If you have further questions, please feel free to reply to this message.

Honestly, I just don’t get it.  So, all I have to do is tell them “I’m not in Sudan” and I can get my access back?  Does this make sense to anyone?  It really makes me wonder how 1) they determine that I am IN Sudan and then 2) when I am NOT IN Sudan.

Quite honestly, I don’t think this LinkedIn thing is really worth the aggravation.  If anyone reading this article can give me some reasons why I shouldn’t just leave this service, it would be greatly appreciated.  Otherwise, I’m in the mood where I am willing to say, thanks, but no thanks.  Your rules make no sense and I don’t want to trust my career path to a organization that can’t even figure out where I am.

Further, I am a big fan of Nathon Fillion.  Probably best known to me for his portrayal of Joss Whedon’s Captain Malcolm Reynolds on “Firefly”, I find that he is seriously a great actor to watch.  He has a flair for being a brooding character that has wonderful comedic timing in sarcastic quips.  He’s been on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in its last season as well as, more recently, on Desperate Housewives.

So, imagine my excitement when I came across, what seemed to be, a movie trailer for The Green Lantern with Nathan Fillion as its star, Hal Jordan:

Sadly, this is not an official “Green Lantern” trailer.  As Josh Wigler reports on MTV.com:

Given the absence of much official info regarding the much-anticipated DC heroes’ live-action debut, Jaron Pitts, a young video editor from Dallas, fabricated a trailer for his own vision of “Green Lantern” by splicing together clips from a multitude of other film projects. The trailer features fan-favorite actor Nathan Fillion as Hal Jordan, utilizing clips from Fillion’s work on “Firefly” and “Serenity” in the trailer. The actor himself loved the fan trailer so much that he even endorsed it on Twitter.

“I LOVE THIS!” Fillion proclaimed. “This guy rocks!”

via Fan-Made ‘Green Lantern’ Trailer Receives Nathan Fillion’s Endorsement.

Still, this is a masterful creation and I’ve enjoyed watching, and re-watching this clip many many times over.  I hope that you will as well.

While I am sad that Nathon Fillion will not be Hal Jordan in the upcoming 2011 movie, the casting of Ryan Reynolds is very encouraging — I’d probably watch anything with Ryan in it!

For those that want the lyrics, here you go (courtesy of the Wikipedia):

Of course, this years celebration was far more comfortable than last year (when I was stuck in a little apartment connected to my office with only a generator for company).  This year, the management of The Jebel Lodge (where I now reside) put on a pretty good show for Christmas Eve dinner.  The menu included pâté, a lovely roast turkey with stuffing and cranberry sauce, and mini mince meat pies.  There were even Christmas crackers to play with, complete with a small toy inside and the traditional bad joke (although the Christmas crowns and traditional “popping” sound were sadly missing).

The Jebel Lodge Pool

Today, it seems that it’s a good day to hang out by the pool — the Russian pilots from UNMIS (United Nation Mission in Sudan) are here, frolicking around in their speedos and playing unsafe games in the pool, the Jebel Lodge management and friends are enjoying some Bloody Marys and throwing each other in the pool and I, introvert that I am, am sitting in the dining hall just enjoying the breeze and what I call “Juba TV” (the madness that is in the pool).

As I write, another group of Jubites just walked in the main gate (they look like another group of roughnecks that make up the humanitarian aid community).  This should be an interesting day.

I have been visited by one Christmas elf already — our Deputy Chief of Party, Stefanie, has been baking since early this morning making chocolate chip cookies and Christmas shortbread cookies that are complete with frosting to make pretty snowman, Santas, stars and other yuletide icons.  Stefanie even slipped me some uncooked cookie dough which I have been gobbling up and making me very happy!

Next year, I really hope to be around family and friends, much like the rest of the world.  But, as these holidays go, this one hasn’t been too bad at all!  My best wishes for a wonderful holiday season to all who may read this post…