Brian,

I hope that history will look back and call you the "poster boy for economic pessimism," but unfortunately, I'm nervous that you're not too far off the mark. Commercial real estate, fictitious US economic data, Greece, what will be the straw that breaks the camel's back?

I'm very optimistic about Connacher's future as a company, but I'm not so optimistic about the stock price. No point owning shares of the wonder child of the Canadian oil patch if someone comes in and scoops a buy-out at pennies on the dollar. Maybe I'm being a bit pessimistic here myself, but I'm doing my 2007 taxes right now (admittedly, FAR too late) and seeing my portfolio close to $4 is kind of depressing when thinking about today's price.

HEDGE Dick, HEDGE! Don't let your ducks become a shooting gallery!