sfisher629 started the ball rolling: I'd like to see what interest there is in some dialogue about how we might use our particular expertise to find good investments. There must be some Rule Breakers out there waiting to be discovered. Any ideas?

I've followed the RM analyses on the oil & gas industry and tend to agree with the RMers' thinking that right now isn't the time to invest in that sector - at least not for me. Other sectors seem like better buys right now. My guess is that things will look brighter in that sector for American companies when we have more Republicans in control of the White House and Congress. I figure they'll be more open to drilling in the Alaskan NWR, etc. I'd also like to see the situations in the Balkans, Chechnya, and the Far East settle down before I invest in companies whose stakes are largely in international drilling. Until then, global service companies like Schlumberger seem better bets.

I keep seeing want ads everwhere begging to hire environmental geologists, so apparently, that sector is still thumping along. I have to admit I haven't been interested enough to take a look at any companies. Seems like profit margins might not be all that attractive, but that's just a guess.

I'm awfully curious to see how Freeport-McMoRan fares with all the hoo-ha in Indonesia.

Hello to the Goddess. Remember lunches at the UT Commons?
Absolutely! I miss that fun group of people and the cafeteria cop whose job it was to make sure we didn't go in the out door. I still use the giant size sippy cup purchased so I wouldn't ruin the map of West Texas gas reservoirs by spilling more coffee on it!

I think I'll alert the old gang to join us here!

Rock on,
Sara