[Encirclements and morale]

Originally posted by Baron:

Desert Dave -

I enlisted because I felt I had an obligation to my country- to the men who fought for my freedoms and rights, and so my children could enjoy the this country like I have.

I reenlisted for totally other reasons my obligation to my friends, no my brothers whom I have fought with and who know they can trust me when the sh*t hits the fan. I’m 40 years old and the closest friends I have are all men I’ve served with in Iraq.

I’m a “weekend warrior” with 18 months of combat under my belt in two deployments – a father of three, an employee of the local school system, and an SOB when I upset the wife – what I am not is a mercenary . You should choose your words more wisely our resident poet

Baron,

First, allow me to say:

I personally appreciate you and your family's

Service to America, and next,

You bet, I WILL choose the following

Words, VERY carefully.

And, will repeat what I say to those Vets

That I am able to help in off the streets,

Resolving - if only temporarily,

My over-riding concern - getting them

To replace their debilitating drug habit

With something else

That they might value - more.

At some point in this process, I always

Simply say this:

Welcome back,

Welcome home, brother.

[... the females tend not to end up

with a drug habit, nor - on the street]

My father was career "Army"

And was a "Marcus Aurelius" kind of "stoic,"

Take that how you will.

I learned many valuable things from him,

But germaine to our conversation,

Are the following two:

1) NEVER ever brag about "war service."

[... having served in the Pacific for 3 years,

and in Korea for 2 more, he had a whole chest-full

of ribbons... he never wore them, ever, not even to full-dress occasions; once was threated by a Brigadier General with court-martial for failing to do so - even then - he refused]

2) NEVER be "political" while in Service.

________________________________________________

Since we were "Army brats" so to speak,

My brother and I both volunteered

When it was our turn to serve.

The youngest brother was yet a teenager

When that helicopter lifted off the roof

Of the embassy in Saigon, but, knowing him

As I do, I am quite

Certain he would have volunteered as well.

RE: Above two lessons learned from my Father

1) NOBODY - not my brothers, my sister, my son

Nor my wife or best friends knows ANYTHING

About my own private service.

And so, NOBODY on a public forum will

Know of it, either.

2) A recent, and properly empirical survey reveals that ~ 80 % of today's Army officers WILL ADMIT that they are... "Republicans."

This disturbs me EQUALLY as much as the fact

That today's Army "buys allegiance," at least

Insofar as the enlisted personnel are concerned.

What are we soon to have?

An Army for each of the major political parties?

Now, I have been registered as "an Independent"

Since the time I could first vote, age 21.

I have voted both ways, and IMHO,

THE most under-rated President we've had

Was Gerald Ford, whom I voted for

In 1976.

My Father NEVER - in my presence, indicated

Any political preference.

Instead, he would say, if asked how he voted:

"None of your business."

______________________________

I am also quite disgusted that we now

Allow private Corporations, most especially

Haliburton, to employ "mercenaries."

What "allegiance" in the real and final sense

Do they have?

This is no minor deployment; this is a MAJOR

Problem... credible sources suggest,

The actual number

Of "mercenaries" being well over - 50,000.

When I went in - disdaining my "privileged"

2S status, I earned 98 dollars a month as

A private, E-1.

Within a year I attained E-5, and was then making

About 220 dollars a month - most of which was

Sent home as an "allotment."

I didn't care HOW MUCH it was, I was

Doing my duty.

As you.

But, times have changed, drastically.

These days, the "standards" grow

Ever more lenient,

Now allowing more and more "felons" for instance,

So to entice the "poorer kids" into enlisting.

Again, we are NOT speaking of the Officer Corps.

The poorer kids very often ARE looking for money,

Or its equivalent - training that might be used

Once out of Service, so to secure a job.

NO DOUBT, that a small percentage are also

Interested in "adventure" as all of us males

Tend to like to do.

Also no doubt that a small percentage

Do it because they feel an obligation

To serve their Country.

That, and no more.

However, it is MY belief - arrived at over

These many long years since 1966

When it was I had volunteered,

That we are fast approaching a time

When MONEY is indeed the primary reason

These kids enlist.

Money money money.

It's the American way.

Not my way, but the culutural inheritance

Of a long-standing concern - both secular

AND religious, that money is truly

The measure of the Man.

How he attains respect and "status" in this Society.

_________________________________

All of that as background

(... and VERY likely, much MORE than anyone

cares to hear),

I will, at last, tell you that I will NOT

Edit my remarks.

Say,

Replacing "mercenary" with "all volunteer."

The latter phrase being some sort of concoction

Designed by the "spin-meisters"

To put a "happy face" on a VERY serious matter.

To conclude... presently, IMO,

We are doing it - all wrong.

We should have a draft.

EVERYONE, including Senator's sons

Should have to serve - 2 years.

[... side note: VERY odd to me that our

So-called "warriors,"

IE, the ones most fit - as it EVER

Has been in all of recorded History,

The "athletes" (... RE: war preparation

known as - the Greek Olympic Games)

Just... never seem... to serve?

Compare that to WWII, when most

Of the baseball players "volunteered."]

Now,

That "volunteer service" could be

In one of the branches of the Armed Forces,

Or, should any individual prefer,

In the "peace corps" or, in VISTA

(... Volunteers In Service to America; every bit!

as valuable - RE: disaster in New Orleans - as

war service)

I am not to blame if someone places a "perjorative"

Or negative connotation

On the old word - "mercenary."

I would suggest that negative aspect

Is due, primarily, to the current RELIANCE

On "buying a way" out

Of... ANY kind of trouble.

Same as how the "rich kids" and "celebrities"

Prefer to do it, BTW.

Whether diplomatic, or economic or military.

Whether judicial or familial.

It's a kind of "dis-ease" in our Culture.

Again, merely my private opinion,

NOBODY needs share, and no,

I don't worry a solitary moment

Whether anyone shares that belief.

We ARE indeed a "mercenary" kind of NATION, Nowadays.

And that disgusts me.

And that carries over into the "politicized" Army,

And even worse,

The very strange notion that we CAN,

And should - "buy" an Army.

Whether it be a Mega-Corporation,

Or a corrupt "pol system" that permits

Us to go to war

WITHOUT Congressional approval,

WITHOUT "just cause,"

And far more Nation-destructive than that,

Pre-emptively.

IF it were a conscripted/militia

Or drafted Army, well,

Many would, IMHO, do exactly

What the Military Code of Conduct

Demands that they do.

QUESTION the authority of ANY Officer

(... Mi Lai, Abu Ghraib)

Who issues illegal or immoral "orders."

____________________________

I am patriotic, mostly.

I am an American, born and bred,

And will not give up my birthright

MERELY because some others might say

Such simplistic, manicheistic, jingoistic

Flat-out bull-sh*t as this:

1) Ari Fleischer, after 9-11:

"Americans need to watch

what they do, and what they say."

2) If you are not with me, you are against me

3) Dissent is not permitted, it is traitorous

4) The President can unilaterally declare war

_______________________________________

OK, enough.

I applaud your service, and value it.

Is America, and is - it's modern Army

"Mercenary?"

In any & all "senses of it" that I have herein

Delineated?

Yes, and quite unfortunately,

It is.

[ August 29, 2007, 07:47 AM: Message edited by: Desert Dave ]

[Russian winter]

ACK!

Three (3) "smileys" in ONE post!

What's WRONG with me! :eek:

Time to re-consult the curandero.

[Russian winter]

Originally posted by Lars:

Heh, well what's the point of anything we do? The war is over.

I was just thinking that if you get to, say Infrastructure 2 or 3, there should be a chance of a couple of the Russian cities not getting knocked down to zero supply. Increase the effect for the more you dump into Infrastructure.

Does anybody even really bother with that tech? Seems a bit of a waste of mmps to me.

One war ends, the next begins!

How it's been since - hmmm,

The cave days!

We've come a far, far distance,

Get-along-with-the-Other-wise, ah,

Ain't we just!

Actually,

No matter all I've already said,

I am coming to regard your proposal, Lars,

With fresh interest.

Why not?

Lessen the First Winter Effects

IF "infrastructure" is at a higher

Level of achievement?

And,

IF you also penalized the Red Beserkers

In a near equivalent fashion, well,

That would be surpassing fair.

One thing... Infra-S WILL be a mite different

(... in several ways)

In the next version,

Thus,

Your last comment doesn't apply as much

Anymore.

[Russian winter]

CWIE has an option to prepare for winter in Russia. It prevents the damage perturn but not the results of winter ie movement still impaired, attack defense still not helped.

What's the point of EVEN having

This "winter prep" option?

Wouldn't you ALWAYS select it?

I cannot imagine any player

Saying something like so:

"I am allowed to PREPARE for that

Most horrible, WORST Winter

In many a Tsarist moon,

BUT!!

Nah! - don't think I'll do that."

It costs about 1/2 the cost of 1 months total production. That is alot so I sometimes do and sometimes dont.

And so, apparently,

There IS some small cost ratio

Kinda benefit.

Well,

You can RISK - what?

A few bucks?

Makes a difference of - what?

A TINY fraction of over-all expenditures?

Why have something where the c-b ratio

Is fussy & small?

Seems like "window dressing"

As opposed to making sure

The whole department store

Has solid foundation?

[ August 28, 2007, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Desert Dave ]

[Russian winter]

Very well stated, AZG!

Tho,

I'd thought - you yer Self living in the desert

As I do

[... lower altitude, and less attitude also,

I'd'a reckon]

You woulda LIKED my research idea? :confused:

Well,

The concisely rational X-planation IS

Way better than the "ironic surreality"

That a LOT of Life oft is

Usually anyhow, I gotta admit,

Every time!

[Russian winter]

Not to omit,

Let's have!

Another researchable category, called:

"Beat the Heat!"

Yep, IF you get yer chit-hits in this area,

You can have!

1) Pith helmet

2) Anti-scorpion sting-kit

3) Wrap-around Ray-ban shades

4) Xtra layer! Of canvas for the canteens

5) Apron so you can safely fry eggs on

the surface of your Panzers or Matildas

6) Camo chalk so to gag loose talk what

Sinks ships, or, whole! anti-tank brigades,

As the case may be.

7) Road map to Rik's Americain Cafe

In Casablanca. Also included, Swedish culture

Hand-book so Ilsa O so beautiful

In blue (... the Bosche, not being

fashionistas... wore grey) MIGHT be?

A bit less enamored of a Freedom Fighter,

And more enamored of... you?

THIS!

We need, in a grand strategic game

Equally much as much as - Winter Prep, IMO. :cool:

[Allied Armor]

The periods of attachment varied, but most were very short.

Kinda how it WAS

Back in them rock-roll psych

The self-less Delphic soul... 60's. :cool:

Thousands & thousands

Of flower POWER girls

Such as

Well,

Came to an end,

As all good, grace-full things tend to do,

Too much freedom, I guess.

Nuthin' left to lose.

Both of the above sentiments

Spooked the be-jesus

Outta them there

Main Street anti-freaks!

Come to think of it though,

The attachments were brief, ah,

But them incredible - memories!

Are yet,

At least for me - an indelible,

Imperishable... night

After night kinda

California dreamin

This?

What you mean?

[Allied Armor]

That would mean somehow adding in ultra...

Hmmmmmm. :confused:

ONLY an "educated guess," at best, but,

May be... let me think a bit here,

May be -> could be accomplished in

That there on

Coming Roadside Attraction?

Now,

I ain't claimin' it IS so,

But,

I AM a'sayin' you can get - close

To what you want?

With or without?

Click - click!

[Allied Armor]

Did I fail to mention?

Darn.

The making of a "mod"

Is so-o-o-o doggone EASY,

That any one can do,

They puts their mind - to it.

Click.

(... peruse them X-tremely basic and well

organized, finely outlined instructions)

Click click click.

Click!

Yer done!

Bang-bang,

The WHOLE SC gang's

Bong the gong

Along, yep,

I assure you, it's

Just like that! :cool:

[Allied Armor]

Just thinking out loud……

Fine thoughts indeed.

And better... YOU... can... make

This game

Precisely as macro or micro

As you'd like it. :cool:

YOU yerself CAN - in ipso facto

Have EXACTLY what you want.

Just like lucre-stacking Croesus could

Once upon a time.

OTOH,

"Default game" is Hubert's choice,

And that's only fair & square, eh?

Since he bears the brunt of ALL

Expenses and all the good

And bad critiques.

Puts it on the line.

His money where his mouth is.

Plays dice with the GS gaming Universe,

So to speak.

[Allied Armor]

The following quote from

The Man

Further down under!

Than - the REAL bush-soldiering Aussies were

Back in the last "good war:"

As for allied tank groups - well IMO this is showing the limitations of the simplistic 10-point single-type unit system that has been copied from PG.

Limitations? LOL.

How about combat units

That have a little "strength bar"

Hovering above, oh, like a side-viewed halo,

That can be green, or yellow, or red?

That settle you better?

How about a flat 1-D counter

That can be flipped over to show

It's "reduced strength" side?

Eeeny or meeny, it's wut youse gets,

No - miney or moe.

The best yet?

Copied from another game, you say?

How do you - assuredly - know it so?

Nuthin' new under the Sun,

I gotta agree with that old bromide,

EVEN when the summers & winters

Are all bollixed up

As in that there Nuu Zeeland?

Well you are arguing, in the specific,

About issues that don't matter

To the rotten general corps jot, IMO.

This is a GRAND STRATEGIC game,

Not a one where you'd

Attach a clatch or a gaggled detach

Of clerks, cooks or 'em Psy-Ops

Up & down eyed kinda Cats

To yer particular outfit.

Well, let's see... "infantry weapons"

Could be darn near ANYTHING

You might wish them to be, eh?

Armored cars.

Mortars.

Flame throwers.

Small detail of LURPS or their like

Carryin' spooled-wire or satchel charges?

Anti-tank can be, let's see,

Fixed or tracked vehicles,

Or, perhaps, merely the bazookas

And Pz Fausts?

Hey!

Even could be?

Small TANK brigade I'd reckon! :cool:

Imagination.

What it's ALL about.

What ANYTHING is all about.

Besides,

Why don't you wait and see

Just WHAT will appear forth, or be,

Esp -> RE: that most incredible Editor

[... you know, since Hubert has been'

so very generous with this ability

to, REALLY, create just about anything

you might want... from maps to combat

target values to unique event or AI

scripting, yep, the list is X-tremely

long, and you ain't knowin' even the half

of it yet, well, I just gotta wonder? WHY

on God's Green hasn't ANYBODY else done

such a thing?

Jeezly Crow -> ALL them famous and self

aggrandizing game-makers we been hearin'

accolades about all these years, and NONE

a'them would do this? Not even close

to this? Laurels for them? Hah! Now, there's

an actual puzzlement for you! ]

Before declaiming the inflexibility

Of the latest,

The greatest - Coming Roadside Attraction

You will ever see, oh, say,

Since Christ was a Corporal.

And, that - he was.

IMO.

Not any Lord-it-over-the-little-guy

Kind of... Staff Officer Cat, nope,

More like yer Willie & Joe sort

Of hump the XO skeleto spine of Italy, and

At last!

Find them cob-webb be-shrouded wine-cellars

In 'at 'er monastery name of - Monte Cassino.

[Encirclements and morale]

It is rare that armies are formed of all conscripts unwilling to fight but forced to do so. Those men I would suspect would surrender quickly but all others have more to lose.

LOL.

Think back, oh, about 40 odd yrs now.

Did we have all mercenary Army then?

LOL.

[Question about game logo]

Normally I resist threads that are not directly related to SCII game play and strategy, but this time I just can't.

After 60 some odd months in here,

I can tell you that this is "normal."

Some folks like to PRE-tend O/W,

And,

Bitch (... er - beotch? Is that how

the X, Y or Z-gen cogniscenti

sorta cats X-press it? :confused: )

And moan and groan and switch tails,

But,

A "community" of like-minded souls

NEEDS some way

To relate in a... well, let's just

Come right out and -> SAY it,

A "gossiping" kinda way.

[... Mark Twain mentioned the one time

that gossip was THE foundation

of good literature]

It's ONLY "human nature,"

And does tend to knit the group

Closer together.

Not... always.

But, usually, I've noticed.

[Strategic Command Developer Diary (Blog) Now Active!!!]

Originally posted by AZGungHo:

Wow - amazing looking map, units, etc.

I WANT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't say as I blame you!

One thing of note:

Man, I'm telling you guys,

That AI!

What an amazing!

And,

Masterful! bit of presto!

Digitation Hubert has done!

With a little assistance from

Edwin P and pzgndr,

Most especially!

For all you SC Cats what play a lot!

Of SOLO games,

Daytimes @ the Office

(... tho, heads up! The mind-prowlers

are everywhere! Of late! :eek: )

Or right deep into the wee of night,

You are gonna be - pleased as Punch

Was, once, or twice. :cool:

[**Weapons and Warfare** Expansion Pack announced!!!]

Yep - remembering more the exceptional games (selective memory) and not the probably >95% of the games that go normal is certainly one of the main factors

Seems, IMO, you suffer from that identical

Memory malady.

I've played many games as well,

And yer 95 % figure is surely

Far, far RE-moved

From that clench of clustered little

Plotted-dots,

On that there scatter-graph.

I wouldn't mind some sort of alternative

Toggle-on, or, toggle-off

"Fair faithfully historical

research paradigm"

Similar, but not

The SAME - nope, we are all unique,

Thank the Lord for that!

As what others are a'askin for. :cool:

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

Well, got a plane to catch.

Out to Big LA.

Just love them palm trees

Sashayin' in the play-full breezes! :cool:

Anybody wants to continue this

Here civil forum discourse,

I'll be back Friday.

Meantime,

Increase your peace.

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

Originally posted by Jev.Dk:

Ahh come on I can top that one in no time.

Rambo, i didn't know you where in the movie buisness

Is THIS yer only purpose in Life?

Runnin' in here from where ever!

That over-flow gush of a sewer

Known as "General Forum," maybe?

To set the record straight,

RE: how terrible rambo MUST be

Since he actually HAS some sort

Of "spiritual" aspect?

EVERYBODY does - even you, though,

You may name it something - ELSE,

Like - hmmm, let me guess,

In yer case

You just LOVE yer Pro Football, eh!

Go to profess yer un-dying faith

In that there... Cathedral.

Ummm, the "Stadium," I mean.

LOLOL!

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

Ok gentleman, I'm getting a bit irritated.

LOL!

I thought it was an inspired

Commentary on the actual state

Of current World Affairs.

"Chucky" as the -> personification

Of - Evil-ness, or E-doing.

"Buddha" as the -> personification

(... see what we're gettin' at here?

It's a "morality" kinda play ?)

Of - enlightened non-violence,

Wouldn't harm... a flee nor fly

Kind of guy?

When I say - well, you WERE talkin' to me?

Though you didn't say so, so

I am presuming? To assume?

I fit in yer ironic category

Of - gentleman?

Anyhow, brown cow,

When I say - I bet that Evil

WILL triumph over Good,

I am agreeing with - Idaho Ivanho.

He has presented, IMO - for yer Big Top

Circus center-ring sort of enjoy-ment!

His "take" on how it really is out there

On them there American mean streets.

How the logico-rational "managers"

Have utterly FAILED to make

Any single soul - sound and safe.

From terrorists.

From punks.

From gangsters.

From pseudo-do-gooders.

From Government itself!

Even, of late.

Just look around some, Yog.

WAKE UP!

IOW.

You ever been there where

The gutters run awful riot red?

Where the heart beat peons

Are not - quite - dead?

Helpin' out?

If you have, I applaud you,

O/W, what you say is

A mite, ummm, melodramatic, yes?

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

Originally posted by jon_j_rambo:

@DDave --- Very profound, your wisdom shines within the Hi-Kuoos. Your personal security system of red flaggin' BS is duely noted. How do you spell "Do-ly"?

Dully?

As in... most of my 3000 some odd posts

Are dull as plain old dish-water?

Done gone down the drain?

LOLOL!

One thing I have learned,

ALWAYS

Stick by yer guns.

Literally and figuratively, hey!

I ain't no gd freakin'

Bleedin' heart liberal!

Anyway,

No matter... what.

Do that, as you yerself tends to do,

And,

You'll die a contented man.

Or woman, as the case may be!

We be - PC all over the place!

LOL!

[... like G Washington, I CANNOT tell

no lie... it's "duly" ]

[Army Unit vs. Infantry Corps in SC2]

Originally posted by SeaMonkey:

Yeah DD, I can't wait to get my hands on that campaign in solo mode. I know Bill has exceeded all of our expectations.

And speaking of, there is another that deserves accolades of thunder, down under, where those hot desert Khamsins rule.

Eagerly awaiting its scope of play also.

Hope you ain't gone be disappointed Brad.

You shouldn't be!

It was you who helped put together

Them there OOB's! :cool:

[... always like to giv credit where

and when it's due... insofar as you

KNOW who did what, O/W "collective

UN-con-science" - RE: Carl Jung -

pursuit, suits me... it's that

honor code kinda thang ]

[ August 20, 2007, 09:30 AM: Message edited by: Desert Dave ]

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

Originally posted by jon_j_rambo:

Christians love prophesy of prediction. The sport's investment could be a little fleshy, we all have our weak points

Anyway who doesn't think the stock market is gambling...well, has never taken a hit.

By the way, I'd love to have an "Ultimate Fighting" between Buddha & Chucky. Don King Enterprizes presents live from the Valley of the Dolls, "Buddha vs Chucky"!

I don't bet all that oft,

And especially!

ANYTHING Don King puts his

Rustle-up-a-scam hands on,

But,

Here,

I'll lay - just the one saw-buck

On - Chucky!

I'll brag a bit, like Targul likes to do

(... esp RE: war service, which, IMO,

NO real combat Vet would

EVER do )

And say - got me a 2nd degree

In "religious studies,"

And I have concluded:

Buddhism is more yer "detached"

Slum-around sorta thang.

Mostly rich white women who can AFFORD

To pretend that

You ain't a'needin' nuthin' much,

Other than attention to the Self.

That's cool.

So long as it don't form the primary

Sine Qua Non

Of yer actual lived life.

Though, they do got that there

Bodhisattva, IE,

Spiritual advanced "entity"

Whoso rejects Nirvana in order to

Assist the afflicted right here!

On fast-collapsing! Earth.

Kinda like "good works" done

By a few of the Christians,

And most of the Jews. :cool:

Trouble being... you just don't see 'em

Hangin' about these quick increasing

American mean-streets

So much? :confused:

Leastways, I ain't.

[ August 20, 2007, 09:24 AM: Message edited by: Desert Dave ]

[Army Unit vs. Infantry Corps in SC2]

I would wait until youse fast-draw Cats

Actually see?

What that new Editor is capable of?

Before enny ultimate decision making, ah, well

That's just me,

How I'd do.

BTW: Bill's A3R is, literally

And figuratively - a masterpiece

Of design and function.

His AI innovations are second to none.

I would recommend it for ANYONE

Who has ever played Third Reich

THE board-game - in any

Of it's 4 iterations.

Even if you've NOT had the pleasure

Of playing THE BEST war-game

EVER made.

[**Weapons and Warfare** Expansion Pack announced!!!]

Amphibious Invasions? Does the new expansion address this? Marines, beach head assault, etc. I didn’t see it anywhere in this thread.

This expansion is still great news though!

Short answer long - sure does.

I recently played '39 default game

At "Intermediate, +1/2" AI bonus.

I was Axis trying to defend Fortress Europa

And the Allied AI over-whelmed

Northern France.

Took Paris fair quickly,

And soon was assaulting

The Seigfreid line,

Using TAC air and Artillery.

Now.

Are there "marines?"

Yes and no.

Not specifically named as such

(... weren't too many in ETO, true?) but,

There is a new unit now

That COULD "act exactly" as a Marine would.

There is NOT any ability to directly attack

An occupied hex.

But that's no undue hindrance

For anyone wishing to attempt

To make a "Pacific" kind of scenario.

As pzgndr has already mentioned,

He and I have made a "global game,"

And one of the things you'll yet

Have to do

(... other than find a way to include

China - I'd make it 2 minors, one with

USA as "parent" and the other - Red Chinese

with USSR as "parent")

Is this... when you place the tiles

You'll need to make those one-tile

Islands - like Malta or Iwo Jima?

2-tile islands.

No problem.

Because there are all those

Partial coastal tiles

That don't actually enlarge the island

All that much.

Not enough to fret over, anyhow.

The AI has gotten quite combat-nasty of late.

Rather,

Hubert has made it so. :cool:

[ August 19, 2007, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: Desert Dave ]

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

Originally posted by SeaMonkey:

Speculation has its place in any portfolio. That place is usually no more than 5%, and I emphasize discipline.

Diversify into different sectors, buy good companies, but continue to monitor their business models diligently.

The internet can provide you the tools to do that.

I recommend Yahoo Finance.

Always maintain a cash reserve and ease into and out of your various positions.

Now - THIS!

Is such superior advice,

I'm gonna relate it to that old Black Cat

I know.

Very well.

Lives under a free-way over-pass

Down here to Desert City.

He can ramble & roam all over!

And collect aluminum cans,

(... he REFUSES to accept

ANY hand-outs, gee - another! Myth

X-posed! On a "reality show" no less!

About them there exponentially increasing!

number of homeless who have deliberately!

CHOSEN their sorry-*ss lot in life!)

And then!

Become a member of the Investor Class! :cool:

UN-fettered, DE-regulated Capitalism

Is the -> ONLY way to go!

______________________________

Caveat: There ARE some unfortunates, IE,

Have HARD-wired deficiencies in the BRAIN, IE,

NO control over their mental disturbances, IE,

schizophrenia, addiction, bi-polar disorder

and the like.

They were "dumped," uh huh,

Like a sack of garbage,

Onto the streets, commencing back, oh,

About 30-odd yrs ago.

It's yet another!

Scintillate example of how our

Philosopher Kings

Do things! LOL!

Now, yer everyday average "socio-path?"

That's a whole 'nother smoke, Jamokes.

Throw 'em in the tombs, the dungeon.

Toss away the skeleton key.

Say la vie, fine be me.

Ah, shoot!

Trouble being... AT LEAST half of 'em

Work in Government or the private

Sector only nobody knows - it's so!

Ipso, them kind are pro-tected

By the good-ol-boys sort of "system."

Etc, and, yah yeah... etc.

[ August 19, 2007, 06:19 AM: Message edited by: Desert Dave ]

[Yogi and Rambo going on holiday together]

We would be sorely remiss

If we didn't turn our attention to:

Lottery tickets!

This is how the VAST under-class

(... yeah, "class-warfare" is officially

OVER and, as expected, the middle & upper

has trounced & trashed the ever-growing, huddled

muddling-along masses - are in constant

hassles - of their OWN making! The Elites

will tell us, over and over

and over and over... down near the gone

utter rotten bottom,

LOLOL! )

Gets their chance, their one big shot!

At the (... alas, half-clever rigged) game

We call - the American Dream!

Disguised taxes, actually, but,

Who cares if the working stiffs

Get kicked around some?

(... they can pretend they are a foot-ball!

Take some jolly solace in that!)

Not many out there giv a good gd, anymore,

At's fer enduring sure!