IVL,

The best way I've found to get in on the action early is to read the general message boards. On IV, check out RNO for base metals, CWEI and BRY for energy, VT.TO for ags and ferts such as potash, and Precious Metals or Gold, Hard Assets and Related for precious metals. Coal was mentioned early on RNO by gothzillaman and lowpdop, who along with The Rock also posts on SH sites such as WHD (which is a company with oil, gas and coal that still has a long way to run). POT, MOS, and other fert and AG companies were mentioned early on by posters on both RNO and VT.TO. In the case of both coal and ferts, they were mentioned on boards such as RNO by posters who recognized the opportunities in other sectors early on. You may not get in at the absoute earliest, but I've found that the best posters are light years ahead of the newsletters and other pumpers. If you read throgh their posts you can still find leads in the coal or ag sectors on a number of companies that either have yet to pop or still have a long way to run. DYODD as always of course. I'm sure you know of the value of the message boards in general, but I hope these specific examples help.

spiny