Hello Everyone

It is Sunday, June 24 at about Noon, so you are probably all asleep on the other side of the world. I am doing laundry! Exciting huh? I am also following the sox on the web. It is good when they play on the west coast at night, because it is morning here. Unfortunately, it is not on ESPN. By the way, the TV here is not so good. ESPN is ok, but lots of soccer and Formula 1. Occassional NBA and MBL. I have 4 HBO channels and they all suck. Singapore has media police, so they cleanse the programs. I have watched a couple of old Sopranos and they edit the violence. The movies are all old. I watched Born of the 4th of July the other day.

They do have movie theaters with recent movies. Ocean's 13 is playing down the road. What do Singaporeans do? Well, it appears that they eat and shop. Everywhere you go there are shopping malls and eating places. It is amazing. Yet they are all skinny. I have been trying to eat like a local. The folks I work with appreciate my sense of culinary adventure. They have had me join their lunch group. The eating establishments come in about 3 types. The cheapest (really cheap) are the "Hawker stands". These are large buildings with numerous stands (kind of like downtown during a festival). They are typically not airconditioned, but you can get a great meal for about 3-4Sing$, which is about 2-2.50US$. If they are airconditioned, it might be a bit more expensive. This is the second version. Then there are the restaurants, which as you might expect vary dramatically, from casual and cheap to fancy and expensive. I also have taken a few meals at the bar at the American Club :-)

I am off to Kuala Lumpur tonight for a 3 day "Islamic Investing" conference. It should be interesting to see how I am welcomed at an Islamic Investing conference. Needless to say, I will not be wearing my GWB button. Islamic investing is unique because it is against Islamic law to pay or receive interest. If you want to buy stocks, they have to be companies that have been approved by a Sharia board based on the company not having too much debt on its balance sheet and other factors.

It is just over a week before Lauren and the kids arrive. I know they are going to have an emotional week. All you friends have been so great. Lauren has been writing to me about all the get togethers she and the kids have been having. We will miss you all, but will be back as often as possible. Of course, visits are always welcome!!

Sorry to have no pictures, but my kids are the ones with the digital camera. More pictures after they arrive. Here are one or two from home that my mother-in-law sent me.