Well, everyone, greetings from San Francisco, which, despite its GENERALLY crummy weather — too cold / windy / foggy too much of the time — has been BEAUTIFUL and sunny and warm-ish … 
…
However great Singapore is, it’s just too hot and humid ALL the time … 
… even given how well they have designed a system-wide response that minimizes the discomfort caused people by that fact … …
So it’s wonderful to be here … … and so far, SF doesn’t seem in bad economic shape, altho my friends in the East Bay are deeply affected,
namely because the University of California — CAL — is such a significant employer there, and Cal-eee – ’s political self-immolation is having serious economic effects that ripple outward there …
We’ll see how that aspect of things continues to unfold … …
Anyway, here’s a piece I wrote the night before I left Singapore, at the behest of Keith Tamimi, who is TRULY one of — if not the — best person to work with in that very special jewel at the tip of South East Asia … …
As Hyman Roth says on the roof of the hotel in Cuba, “Michael, I wish you had brought this up in private” …
Oh, wait, that’s not what he said … or, rather, it IS what he said … but the line I want remember in this context is,
“Enjoy !!!” — especially if you don’t live in, or aren’t affected, by what happens in China, Japan or the US … …
So I guess, what I REALLY mean is what they say in that OTHER gambling den, Las Vegas,
about which, btw, the movie THE HANGOVER is not just the best statement, but is ALSO one of the most briliantly written American films ever … …
and shows how Texas hold-’em has become THE key “game” of our sad sad period … …
“Shuffle up and deal !!!”