Good News from Dr. Manny: May '10

Good News from Doctor Manny

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of another
--Charles Dickens

Mortgage Good News

In my last newsletter, I wrote that I am expecting a secondary mortgage market to open up by the end of 2010. As it turns out, it is already happening. The April 14th issue of “The San Francisco Chronicle” reported, “Mortgage – backed securities return.” Read more

Overall Good News

Mortgages are not the only indicators of improvements in the economy. In the April 15th issue of “The San Francisco Chronicle”, Scott Lanman wrote, “Fed sees signs of widening recovery.” Read more.
In the April 17th issue, James Temple stated, “Venture capital on the rise in Bay Area, U.S.”. Read more.
And in the April 18th issue, Kathleen Pender wrote in her Net Worth column, “Things looking up – really.” Read more.
Thankfully, all of these articles are confidence boosters for business people as well as consumers, and there’s hope that our economy will bounce back from these difficult times in the near future.

I’ve read that the Government in Cuba has allowed for private enterprise of barber shops and beauty salons. These are the first steps of change since 1968. Perhaps this is also a first sign of improvement with Cuba’s relationship with the USA, and soon Americans will be able to go there directly, without having to fly via Canada or Mexico.

Personal Good News

My wife Elfa and I went to dinner for the first time over the weekend to “The Plant Café Organic” in the Embarcadero. The menu has healthy food with good desserts, and there’s a great view. The restaurant is located next to the pier, opposite the Pyramid building. The pier seems to be a popular spot for pre-wedding photography. I counted six couples getting photographed within a half hour! So, I took the opportunity to capture some of the action. Here is what I shot.
 

After I finished reading Greg Mortenson’s book “Three Cups of Tea”, that I mentioned in a previous newsletter, I wanted to know what happened after the book was published in 2003. I was happy to learn that Greg wrote his next book, “Stones into Schools” that catches us up to his mission to the Summer of 2009. “Three Cups of Tea” became an international bestseller, has been published in 43 countries, and sold over 4 million copies. There are now more than 130 schools built in Pakistan and Afghanistan thanks to the extraordinary efforts of an “ordinary” American. You can get the book in the public library, after I will finish reading it.

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