Exasperated for sure. It's also getting to be almost comical reading so many opposing opinions out there from supposedly well connected sorts. A bunch of in-the-know guys say the dollar is heading way, way higher and now's the time to buy. Others say the dollar is toast, get out of dollar everything, short it, and only idiots would buy treasuries. Both sides have plenty of stuff to back them up, too. What to do.

Some say the US recession is nearing an end, others that the US financial system is doomed and on the slippery slope to nowhere. Lots more evidence, pro and con. What to do. A whole lot say gold and silver is going sky high, to the moon. The cartel replies by simply giving us the moon, then telling us to bend over and grab our ankles. What to do.

Most of us believe ECU will head well north of 6 bucks soon. But with ECU tanking, am I going to believe 6 bucks plus, or my lying eyes.

To me, watching the gold/silver shenanigans is like being able to stand in back of a blackjack dealer watching him cheat while the players, some of whom know he's cheating, continue to place big bets, winning some and losing more. They complain to the pit boss who denies the cheating, they complain to the casino owner who talks mumbo jumbo back to them, they complain to the gaming commission that simply yawns and stalls, since their members are former casino big shots. What to do.

I've been doing pretty much the same thing for months expecting different results. No way. Madness. 2009 will change a lot, that's for sure. May your perception be your reality and may that be a great year for our countries, us bugs and ECU.

Merry Christmas one and all.

Hobbers