Saffire

The unemployment rate just hit 8.1%, the highest in 25 years. *click click click click* Here we gooooo...!

Politically that would be a disaster, so I think you'll see the Democrats behave remarkably like Republicans when it comes to oil prices. They talk a big game, but when it comes to action gas prices are the most tangibly-connected factor to a President's approval rating. BTW, Nick, can you spot me 29 mil? I'll pay you back in a week. Just wire it to my BNP Paribas account, I think you have the number from last time we talked.

They have a really cool sound, I particularly enjoy the songs that run into each other smoothly like "Out There On the Ice" and "Lights and Music". I'd love to see them in concert.

Well I would argue that all criminal activity (particularly violence) has mental illness at its root.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D96O0PAO0&show_article=1 The criminal got off using the "mental illness" defense. Score 1 for Canada's justice system, 0 for Canadians.

Hey guys, can I join this game? I'd love to make a mixtape for someone...

Interesting argument, Professor Sexypants. When you put it that way, it makes it appear pretty apparent that oil is currently way undervalued, and generally a great investment.

Chuck, have you considered the political implications of decentralized power production? It could be interesting...

"Society" is just a collection of individuals, each distinct from the other. Any attempt to categorize, classify, or otherwise segregate groups of people should be viewed with extreme skepticism, because the end goal is always the same: to turn us against each other, so that we can be taken advantage of.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/4938993/Venezuelas-Hugo-Chavez-tightens-state-control-of-food-amid-rocketing-inflation-and-food-shortages.html The differences between imposing price controls on food and on homes aren't that big. Except here in America the government is trying to keep home prices high at the expense of the rest of the economy (because voters perceive their homes to be investments). This policy causes homebuilders to overestimate demand and build more houses than we need (malinvestment - money is wasted that is needed in another sector of the economy). In Venezuela, the policy of forcing farmers to sell their food for less than it costs them to produce it makes them produce less. In any economy, prices are signals. They send a message about what society demands, and in what quantities. Governments, as long as they have the ability to print money and tax (read: steal), skew the price signals and cause recessions and shortages.

Or the damned Canadians. ;) Or the Russians, Venezuelans, Mexicans, or even our own Obamanation. There are lots of places to get oil.

Of course, if the output increases. The odds of that are low, however, because oil exporting states prefer to sell the stuff for a higher price. I'd say the downside exists, though. 50% is what I'd cap it at. Believe it or not, that's less scary than the downside potential I see for the US stock market. Well this has more to do with refiners trying to make a quick buck than the actual oil suppliers. But if you discount inflation, the price of gasoline (in America) is generally where it should be while oil is at this price per barrel. Here's an article on the demand for oil in the US now: http://www.cnbc.com/id/29429395

Depends on when you expect the recovery to be. But yeah, at this price point (and as a long-term investment) that's where I'd put a lot of my portfolio. It's bordering on foolproof, and that's what makes it a little scary to me. Oil isn't like a stock, so the downside could be another 50% or so. Just keep that in mind - you're probably better off not selling for a few years anyway.

Nope I never went to an office. You just fill out some forms and I guess they can do their own background check. Now the process of rolling over a 403b might require you go to the office, but I'm not sure...

Yes it was. Thank God I didn't pull the trigger on that trade yet. I would have lost nearly 17%... :P Nick, I think you'd like this guy's website: http://www.thekirkreport.com He trades the markets for a living and he links to the stuff he's reading each day. I've learned a ton from him.

lol Hot weather doesn't bother me at all... but humidity might! I'll just put extra gel in my hair or something. ;)

Several reasons... I hear starting a business there is easy, and the taxes are low. Also, I love the tropical climate. Plus it is economically more healthy than most western countries.

Hey Hey you're so fine, you're so fine you blow my mind, HEY TRACIE! :D

Hey Singapore people! I'd love to chat with someone who lives there so I can understand more about what it's like... I've been seriously considering moving to this country. :D

Gordon Brown has written an editorial explaining his ideas about the situation... It's remarkable to see such totalitarian language couched in the beautiful reminiscence of liberty. The degree of cognitive dissonance necessary to enjoy (or even to understand) this editorial borders on a heroin addict's.

Rhetorically defeating this is actually quite simple, so it's frustrating to see the Republicans so weak on that front. I think part of the problem is the Republicans actually agree with a lot of what Obama is doing, and have acted in similar ways during the Bush administration. So criticism of Obama's actions sounds silly coming from the GOP. As the economic crisis begins to have a greater effect on Americans' day-to-day lives, I wonder if Obama will be able to effectively parlay the resulting anger into increasing his political capital the way FDR did. The odds of seeing another World War in the next decade are increasing exponentially.

I'm not sure of a bounce on Monday, because with the technical support here you could also see another steep drop, depending on trader sentiment. But I'm certain that medium-term (3 months) we'll see at least one big rally. Not a rally of denial, but just a technical rally. Your GE story is funny, I remember hearing Peter Schiff compare it to a hedge fund, and I totally agree. How could you own something that buys commercials touting "ecomagination"? What the hell is that? :laugh3: I'm sorry she didn't listen to you, just don't rub it in her face! ;) If she's attractive ell her you've got some good picks but the only way you can let her know them is if she goes out to dinner with you. The energy ETF looks OK on a cursory glance, a 7 PE is fine long-term. It's lost half its value since the high last year, though... be wary of trying to catch a falling knife. (I should probably take my own advice.)

Nick, I just bought heavily into this ETF: http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=TNA Figured you might be interested in my recent trading activity. I think I agree with you that as we near 7000 there's some technical support, and I'm counting on a bounce in the markets on Monday...

I don't see this band listed in the band index. Anyway, check out Doves new songs on their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/dovesmyspace Kingdom of Rust and Jetstream. Both sound fantastic.

2 days and 2 nights. Yeah, it was real jail. Not just a holding cell. So... orange jumpsuit, sleeping on concrete floor, eating crappy food, etc. But we had our own separate shower stalls, that was nice. I met a bunch of awesome guys in there, though. My roommates were two illegal immigrants, named Carlos and Orlando. Orlando was caught with two fake IDs on him (you need a social security number to get a job in America), and he had a picture of his girlfriend and daughter who he was trying to support by sending them money. Carlos was there for paying a guy to kill his co-worker. I know it sounds like shit but honestly everybody I met in there had a good heart, and a couple of them were innocent of any wrongdoing (like myself). But if they committed a crime, they readily admitted it. I spent a lot of my time playing chess, watching The Price is Right (we had a small TV in the common area), and teaching my Mexican roommates tongue-twisters in English so they could practice their pronunciation of certain words. :D