Gee--$1.87 for 1 British pound! Is Duhbya trying to convert Americans...

to his way of thinking about the world? Or is it his way of
"improving" the economy before the 2004 election? To ensure that
Americans spend money in America and on American goods?

It was a nasty shock when we went to buy some money for the trip. The
rate, I swear, was better a week or two before Christmas. At the rate
the American dollar is plummeting, we might as well be in Venezuela!

Lil

Lil wrote:

to his way of thinking about the world? Or is it his way of
"improving" the economy before the 2004 election? To ensure that
Americans spend money in America and on American goods?

It was a nasty shock when we went to buy some money for the trip. The
rate, I swear, was better a week or two before Christmas. At the rate
the American dollar is plummeting, we might as well be in Venezuela!

Today the rate is about $1.78=1GBP. Historicaly the USD is lowest near
Christmas and Strongest rate at the end of Febuary.

A weak $ does help with US Exports and tourism.

"Lil" wrote
| to his way of thinking about the world? Or is it his way of
| "improving" the economy before the 2004 election? To ensure that
| Americans spend money in America and on American goods?

Any 'beneficial' effect probably has more to do with the weak USD making
American goods look cheaper to America's export customers, than with
deterring personal travel or imports. As a %age of the population,
comparatively few Americans travel outside the USA, so any effect on
personal travel would have a minor effect on the US economy.

Of course the richness and variety of Britain's culture and heritage mean
that a visit is well worth while even if you have to sell the weans into
slavery to pay for it :-)

Owain

On the other hand, a guy just offered to sell me the Empire State Building
for a million bucks, which on the current exchange rate works out at
GBP7.12. Think I should go for it ?

"Lil" wrote in message
om...
to his way of thinking about the world? Or is it his way of
"improving" the economy before the 2004 election? To ensure that
Americans spend money in America and on American goods?

It was a nasty shock when we went to buy some money for the trip. The
rate, I swear, was better a week or two before Christmas. At the rate
the American dollar is plummeting, we might as well be in Venezuela!

Lil

Venezuela would probably be better - they have their own oil supply.