Hi FDrake!

I have been avoiding reading the forums and even avoiding looking at my accounts for the last few weeks. I know things are bad but my personal outlook has not changed. My opinion is that the markets are hugely manipulated and the system is completely rigged. I know many people write me off as a conspiracy nut, but my response in simple: I do not know of any other explanation for the fact that the biggest bailouts in financial history have occurred within the last 4 months, which are destructive to the dollar, yet the dollar has soared by 15% during that interval. The rigging is also understood by players behind the scenes that are front-running the scam, by shorting into gold and PM juniors, and reaping massive profits while the regulators stand asside and do nothing. The documented massive increase in gold and silver shorts held by just 2 or 3 big banks is evidence of this. The timing is no coincidence.

I do not think all of this can do more than create short term instability in the market. The fundamentals will dictate that gold and silver go much higher, and eventually investor interest will return to the juniors. You cannot paper over the problems in the financial system, and the dollar will suffer as a consequence, no matter how they may choose to spin it on CNBC or elsewhere.

It is what it is. I am a passenger on this boat and I can choose to sell in disgust from this scam, or to accept it and ride out the storm. I have stayed invested in KXL and have not bought or sold a share. I was forced to investigate my PF today though when I got the dreaded margin call from my broker, and had to close at a loss on some of my trades, even though I am convinced that the bottom is close. I would love to be a buyer of more KXL at these prices but unfortunately I am a victim of my own strategy on other trades. I am sure I am not alone in this regard.

I will still be invested in this sector throughout the turmoil that may lie ahead. I still think the PM sector is the only place that will offer legitimate protection and upside through the crisis that remains to be resolved in the markets. It may take some time, and it has been painful, but no one ever promised me it would be easy. Good luck to all, and make the decisions that you can live with no matter how things pan out. We will not get a second chance, and cannot invest based on 'what if'. Things are as they are, and figure out the worst case and if you can still handle that, then go ahead without fear. I have no regrets and have made my choice.

cheers!

mike