Re:(1:19)

I really came back due to something very simple…I’d had the incredible fortune (timing), of buying NASDAQ stocks in the early 90′s…

I sold everything literally in March 2000 and bought property in Italy with the proceeds (I’d been living there for 8 years, but didn’t own anything)…The property happened to TRIPLE in value in just 5 years…

Originally, I wasn’t buying for the investment value, but when home prices went ballistic, I saw the writing on the wall and decided to take the money and run (figuring that I’d be able to find something ‘cheaper’ after the inevitable crash)…

Recently, I just paid CASH for a property that was distressed so the loop is complete…

I really miss Italy, but i don’t mind being back here closer to my family either (as I’d spent the better part of 25 years in various places)…

Re: Italian living – I learned much from their methods. Now about half of my fresh produce is volunteer – mustard greens, cilantro, arugula, borage, potatoes – I never know what I’m going to find out in the garden! Have the pomidori in the ground, also zwiebeln, radisli, spinat, peperoncini, ruebli; however, my corn isn’t in yet – still too wet here in Oregon.

I, too, have a day job as a freelancer for various print and web publications, but it’s more of a cover for my travel activities. Actual earned income is the smallest number in my list of sources of income.

Have learned much from the wisdom of regular posters here – just put in my first two trailing stops a couple of weeks ago. I’m long everything. Don’t understand arcana like puts, calls, ETFs, heads-and-shoulders, etc., but I, too, am nervous about the S&P500.

“We are all little students.” Wo men dou shi xiao xuesheng.
Zhou En-Lai

In Italy, I think they did away with that notion about 400 years ago…

Isn’t that how long they’ve lived under central banking?…..Coincidence? :(

nevermind what I said before, I had just read a paper by this guy at ZH not long ago. I just didn’t recognize the name again right away. Not really sure what to make of him.

I’ve been vaguely following his synthesis for years now, but forgot about him for a bit…

Here’s one of his LATEST…just published in february ’09

http://www.contrahour.com/contrahour/2009/03/martin-armstrong-is-it-time-to-turn-out-the-lights.html

No i haven’t heard of armstrong. I’ll look him up. thanks.

Have you ever heard of Martin A Armstrong?

His research shape up in a very similar way to Benner (with respect to cyclicality)…

if you are unable to find his “charts”, ask me and I’ll provide them…Meanwhile, it would do some good to research this guy yourself a little…

He is controversial (and actually in jail for fraud), but fascinating…