| IHi jbspook, I checked the rate on my fully secured Line of Credit at the Canadian bank a couple of days ago - prime ... 4.0%. While the N. American rates may go lower for a while, the U.S. govt. owes huge amounts of money, and if I were the overseas holders of trillions of their debt, with all of the recent bail-outs, and probability of more to come, piled on top of the leaky rainbarrel called the Iraq war ... ... I think that I'd be telling them that I really didn't want to lend them any more money ... ... certainly not at the recent low rates of interest. A stock that had promised a buyout at $42.75 to go private just before the U.S. sub-prime and funny-bunny commercial stuff debacle hit the fan last year, has been finagling back and forth, dealt with bondholders' lawsuits, delayed consummation date, etc. ... ... now says that the deal is off: can't be handled at acceptable risk. Stock prices hung around the high 30s, 40, down to low thirties ... now have dropped to mid-20s (which is where some analysts say is more or less appropriate). So - some funds that I figured to be available to deploy elsewhere soon - have disappeared in a cloud of smoke. I believe that markets are low now, and have been buying periodically for the past couple of years (after having declined for some time, previously). Right now I'm digging up some more share certificates, and having mutual fund certificates issued as collateral and backup to support some more forays into the market. Who knows how far down the market will go? Or how it may take to get there? Not much fun, though ... watching the departing train get smaller in the distance ... with you not on board. I've been playing these games for 50 years and may I make a suggestion, jbspook? Don't let the money business spook you - learn how money works ... make it work for you. Treat it with respect ... and have some cushion available - it's tough getting caught naked in this game. BUT - show your money who's boss. Money makes a great servant ... but a terrible master. Now, nearing 80 and in good health, I had about 80% of my assets in equities a while ago, then it was somewhat less, after the market drop, but I've bought some more recently ... that promptly went down some more! Former cash on hand has been pretty well depleted ... so I may be somewhat less than 80% in equities, now. Anyway - I hope that you make a wise choice with regard to your plan to deal with your mortgage. One that, four or five years down the road, you'll be pleased to have made. ole joyful P.S. I think that there's a growing feeling that the U.S. Dollar, in the light of the recent piling up of debts, and printing all of that money ... ... is in increasing jeopardy as the world's premier currency. I hear talk the last couple of days of the possibility that the Russians may act to back the ruble with gold. Just watch what may take place ... if former rubble changes to valuable ruble ... that may change to gold. They have huge levels of resources. That are going to be in increasing demand, as the third world gets on its feet. They ain't gonna give 'em away free. Or be willing to let furriners come in and buy 'em up cheap, as we stupid Canadians have been willing to do for years ... including our precious oils and gas reserves. ole joyful | 
