Thanks RockyCat, for your post and for your kind words too.

I'm sure nothing (well, very little) related to investing is out of
place. My view of this discussion stated in post #2 - sort of like
sitting around a campfire, and every so often someone speaks up.

I guess you bought your 4th edn used? I know the 3rd has been re-issued
but have not even got to the point of buying that yet.

Right now, on my reading table, is Charles Brandes "Value Investing
Today". I like the book. It is introductory, something that might
be given to a friend who was interested. And sometimes the way a
particular point is covered suggests a perspective that goes beyond
introductory, so I think any value investor might gain from Brandes'
book.

My opinion of the 5th edn you know. Perhaps it was disappointment
that it was no longer the voice of Ben Graham that put me off.

Turning to another topic - the Delphi chap 11 filing made me wonder
if there are presently values in auto related. I think in general
it is a bit too soon to move, but maybe not too soon to start trying
to find some candidates.

Sales of autos overseas seem robust, from anecdotal material excerpted
in Doug Noland's "Credit Bubble Bulletin", via www.prudentbear.com
Each week Doug mentions inflation-suggestive news items eg Bloomberg
and there is frequently a mention of increased auto sales figures.

So, I'm wondering if a US-based auto parts company, which has patents
or other merits which give it entree to global vehicle manufacturers,
might be robust enough to be a safe investment. Perhaps if there is
a lot of Delphi-related pessimism developing, most of the parts mfgrs
may get sold down in sympathy.

No specific names in mind. Just wondering how to play the situation.

My current candidates for accululation are Alcan (which I consider to
be quite safe, and advantageously priced, though perhaps not ultimate
low which may be reached if there is a confidence break in the market),
and forest products companies - of which I'm trending into Cascades,
Domtar, Norbord, Abitibi (bit spec), and Tembec (much more spec).

And just having a ball, watching silver price go up, as entitlements
to silver are about 10 pct of my portfolio. There I'm holding some
silver certificates (as proxies for the metal, ultimately redeemable
in cash though, not really metal) and some shares of SSRI.

Last time around in the big spike in silver, April-2004, I neglected
to sell a bit. Possibly I'll try to catch the volatility this time,
sell some to maintain 5-10 pct overall, buy back later if it drops,
or if silver does not drop, have no regrets because of retained part.