Yeah, right Portee. You only took that bath because you live near other two legged critters and have an actual girlie wife to contend with. I, having neither, only take baths in the market. A cold shower from time to time to keep the fleas and ticks at bay is also in the yearly plan of action. Earnings, earnings, earnings. You cannot pay out what you do not earn. The payout ratio must and shall change if, dare I even think it, the earnings per share decrease. In that case the payout ratio must rise from the 80% or so we now enjoy in order to keep the amazing divey we now enjoy. You pays your money and you takes your choice:

1. Income remains the same: no change in divey or payout ratio.

2. Income increases: Can maintain both or increase divey while keeping payout ratio the same or keep divey the same while reducing payout ratio, or boo-yah increase divey while reducing the payout ratio.

3. Income decreases - need I say more? Either the divey must fall or the payout ratio must increase or both.

The only other option is to sell assets.

Hopefully only options one and two are on the table. I fear for Senor Portee's blood pressure should we be forced one day to look behing door three.

I await Portee's response since he is always ready to show me the error of my ways.

Doc