The Economist had an interesting book review last month which mentioned this trader in all manner of arms as part of an informal economy filled upon the creation of the Newly Independent States; in actuarial fashion, the reportage goes that 1/5 of the global domestic product actually is tinged by related transactions.

As for the game is over, my guess would be English poorly spoken by both the Thailand listener and Russian speaker. If in Russian, there are several possibilities that come to mind. The name of the game chess in the Russian language is “checkmates”, or “ШАХМАТы”, or simply ШАХМАТ, checkmate, as a declaration of surrender. A more ethnic and lyrical way to say it is untranslatable, though commonly rendered as “That’s all” or in one instance “all and everything”, “ВСё И ВСё”, which often is heard at the conclusion of a parent’s reading to children from a fable in a book about mythical deities or folk legends.

“I know why he wants you on,” Matthews said to Washington while looking at Griffin. At which point Matthews did something he rarely does. He paused. He seemed actually to be considering what he was about to say. He might even have been editing himself, which is anything but a natural act for him. He was grimacing. I imagined a little superego hamster racing against a speeding treadmill inside Matthews’s skull, until the superego hamster was overrun and the pause ended.
“He wants you on because you’re beautiful,” Matthews said. “And because you’re black.” He handed Washington a business card and told her to call anytime “if you ever want to hang out with Chris Matthews.”

The Aria of Chris Matthews, NYT, MARK LEIBOVICH

“Ah honey, I’m right in the middle of some of last years highlight reels, and I want us to go to the 181 Club after that. Can’t it wait?”

“No, follow me, and I’m tired of the 181 Club, too. All you and your fwiends do anymore is sit around there and complain about how tough your steaks are, and how warm is der beers.”

“But, sweetie, it’s still new, and the guys think it’s cool!”

“Okay, help me choose between these two pictures for the alcove. Here’s the first one, what do you tink?”

“Lions on the Plain! Wow!”

“And here’s the second…”

“Hippos in the Water! Awesome!”

The Jig is Up. To parse it with any precision requires a colloquial understanding of the actual phrase. This is as thin a clue as I’ve seen you work with but I’d never bet against your instincts. No never, always with!

Vast right-wing conspiracy, anybody?