Mervyn Dymally has held a lot of official posts -- Lieutenant Governor, congressman, assemblyman for starters -- and even though he lost his last election bid last year, he isn't without things to do. Dymally remains the West African nation of Benin's honorary consul in Los Angeles, I notice in the latest list of local consular officials. There are 98 countries represented with consulates in the Los Angeles area, including the People's Republic of China. If you're interested, the consulate of Botswana is currently vacant.