Dutch61, I can't imagine anyone ignoring these markets unless you take a vacation. Nobody knows the outcome either, but there are a lot of opinions, including mine. I find these markets the best entertainment on TV right now. I know it can be a very bad scene, but that is out of my hands. From one source this morning we get an optimistic view............

" But a more liquid banking system, falling energy prices and the sheer resilience of the U.S. consumer could set the stage for the next upturn to begin in 2009. "

I wouldn't bet on that. I view consumer spending as a bubble that is ready to burst. We'll always have the sonsumer buying the necessities. You have to to live.

" It's far more easy to put SP down on low volume, you always need big volume to get SP up." I take it you are suggesting this is deliberate but it is more the way markets work. Nobody in their right mind is buying at the ask. Smart buyers are at the bid and waiting for the seller to lose patience out of fear. The markets drift lower on their own, and do not need any help to go down. Conversly, when buyers are accumulating and want the stock, it does rise on low volume. However, you are right about large volume being neccessary before you get a large and rapid rise.

" Our only hope is a buy-in or a buy-out." I'm not quite with you here either, but I do think it may happen. I hope so too. We will get our value out of Noront quicker. However, R.N. has made some moves to bring qualified people on board that suggests he has other plans. It may be to take this find a bit further. All this may take up to another two years. With this economy, the difficulty borrowing money, and the need for companies to conserve cash for survival, I don't see a buyout in the near term. Cheers.