Packing for Asia

Next time I'll log in from Bangkok and a week or two later from China.

In the meantime, all's well stateside, considering, we're surfing the trough. Frugality is the new wealth, and some of the stimulus money is beginning to have an effect.

Obama just signed a $5.7 billion national service bill Tuesday that triples the size of the AmeriCorps (sort of a domestic Peace Corps) service program over the next eight years that helps students to earn money for college. Said the president, "What this legislation does ... is to help harness this patriotism and connect deeds to needs." A major investment in volunteer and grassroot works, a brilliant move. But he comes from that environment and knows what a good investment it is. As difficult as this huge economic speedbump has been, sometimes I can't believe our good fortune. This is one of them.