Alone in Istanbul:American Mother Still Missing

An American mother of two,Sarai Sierra,33,has been missing in Istanbul,Turkey for more than 10 days now.The Staten Island,New York aspiring photographer was to fly home on January 21,but never made it.
Ms.Sierra had originally planned to make the expedition with a friend.When the friend bowed out,she resolved to go on alone.She meticulously researched how to safely visit Istanbul by herself:where to go and at what time of day.Photos and video show that she dressed in a nondescript way,wearing drab clothing and a hat.
Ms.Sierra also visited Amsterdam,Netherlands and Munich,Germany,then returned to Istanbul,where she stayed in a hostel.She had reportedly planned to meet a man named Taylan,an Internet friend,on a bridge she wanted to photograph.Police are looking for this individual as well.
The Turkish police have formed  a special task force to work the case.They are reviewing thousands of hours of surveillance video from downtown Istanbul for clues as to Ms.Sierra's whereabouts.They also seek her cell phone records.
A group of Turkish citizens have joined the search.The Association For Families With Lost Relatives is distributing fliers with Ms.Sierra's photos along with fliers for their own relatives.Ms.Sierra's husband and brother have flown to Istanbul to help police.Her children are ages 9 and 11.
Turkey is a NATO ally of the US and aspires to join the European Union.

Shop Talk

People in Los Angeles,California and Eindhoven,Netherlands are reading this.So are many others.All the best to all of you.If I am in on a Friday,I will try to post Shop Talk.So far,it's working out.Really,it's something extra.I can give you a shout-a shout to my new partner,Tiger Direct Canada,as well.They are on my link list now.

Rogers Reports

Investor Jim Rogers of Rogers Holdings,who recently moved to Singapore,notes that real estate has been down in Asia,on account of Westeners not coming there as much as they had been.There was too much speculation in China,but China and Taiwan have the best markets now,while there is a slowdown in the U.K.,the Netherlands and Spain.The U.S. recession will be worse than expected,but he's been hearing about an oil bubble since it was 3.00 U.S. a barrel.There has been no major oil field discovery in 40 years.There is no production of commodities.Three billion people in Asia want to live as the West does,and now they're working very hard.They have huge ambition and drive.It's a world that used to exist in America and Europe.It's astonishing,Mr.Rogers observed.