[craigimass]

Hah, I'm so confident I even sold my Gold position.......
Well, that means it's headed up for the rest of you.....

The fact is, as many have always said, that if your broker or banker or expert really knew what was going on, they probably would not have to suit up at 6 in the morning and take the train to work...and then listen to what the boss says....

My dad never put 2% of his money in the stock market, preferring to invest in those old fashioned tax-frees as well as real estate which he personally managed - which turned a profit from day one. He is doing very well after using this method for 30+ years. As to how everyone else who talks Gold and Dollars and Charts and what they "know"....well, I'll let y'all figure that one out for yourself.

I accept Tropics POV for what it is - an intelligent point of view based on what he knows and experiences. Now...if I just put that together with what a couple thousands other people know, stir it up, calculate it out and then take action....well, I might get somewhere.

I'm always a little torn between "take the money and run" and "well, the whole world is going to poop no matter what, so I'll just sink with the masses"....in other words, if there were a nuclear winter (real or so-to-speak), I would just as well vanish than survive. Sure, I cover the basics, but don't keep a years worth of food and water stored in the basement.

In terms of the market, that means I have plenty of cash, plenty of bonds and plenty of equities.....some real estate, a boat, a bunch of tools and a loving family.....as well as a small continuing income from consulting, writing and teaching.

Unfortunately - they keep these threads forever. That is why someday I may be sorry for saying - yes, we are probably there. I predict the general market will not hit new lows. In the case of Real Estate it still has not leveled out, but money is sitting around ready to pounce and that will drive prices slightly upward after it sinks a bit more.

Hey, if you want to feel good look at Apple Computers earnings. If things are so bad, how do people afford those top of the line computers and iphones? Those are NOT purchases which need to be made.

Look at googles earnings. Again, those are advertising dollars which do not need to be spent unless the advertisers are getting a return (selling stuff).

That is not fake. That is real.