Hey Flagpole, I just want to say that I enjoy your posts on the economy, if for no other reason than you are generally optimistic about it. Whether you are right or not...who knows, but at least you have a positive outlook. I used to enjoy watching CNN and other news programs, but they are so overwhelmingly negative, that I no longer watch them. Talking to my financial advisor the other day, he feels that all the negative attention to the economy only exacerbates the condition. He has seen many of his clients liquidate perfectly sound investments, only to put them in treasuries, CDs, etc. They apparently are willing to guarantee huge losses. This, of course impacts my pretty sound investments. For example, I'm a few years away from retirement, so my portfolio was fairly conservative: preferreds, corporate bonds, etc. Thought I was pretty safe, but have dropped $350K to date. Haven't sold, although tempted a few months ago. Thanks to you, my broker, and others, I resisted the urge to "stop the bleeding" and hang in there. I have a seven to eight year "window", so hoping it will recover by then. I'm also getting some nice dividends, which soften the blow somewhat. There is no question that the economy is ugly at the present time, but reading some posts, you would think we are heading for a major Depression. Sell, sell, sell, buy gold and canned food and head for the hills!! I'm amazed that the markets have stabilized as much as they have, with the doom and gloom out there. Anyway, thanks for your opinions....whether right or wrong. Happy Holidays!