I'm starting this thread to get my mind off Aurelian, which I've become far too absorbed with lately, to the detriment of other investments and activities.  Waiting on Aurelian is like watching paint dry.  Not knocking it, but I need to get something else started before I go completely nuts.

They say that in the great gold rushes it was the folks selling picks and shovels who made the big money.  I suppose that applies to saloons and cathouses as well, but I'll leave the entertainment sector for another day.  Right now, it's picks and shovels that are on my mind.

My intention is to scare up investment ideas focused on companies that provide services, or essential products for the resource sector.  I'll include forestry, agriculture and water in that definition, ie. resources in the broadest sense of the word.  Such companies as Major Drilling Group (MDI.T), Joy Global (JOYG), Mine Safety Appliances (MSA), Tidewater (TDW) and Natural Gas Services (NGS) spring to mind, but we can talk about seismic co's, deep water drilling, helicopter services, nuclear power components, farm machinery, in short, anything that goes directly to supporting the resource industry that isn't itself a primary producer or explorer.

Depending on the response I might make this a separate board, or if someone else can do it, fine.  I'm not out for glory.  I'm also considering a Bricks & Mortar board to cover investing in basic infrastructure, since that area should receive a lot of attention in the future, particularly as it applies to energy and transportation.

But for now it's picks and shovels.  Anyone got any ideas?

 ebear