Cynics taking advantage of low volume to drive us out. Out SCHN with a loss earlier, WFII and HLIT a bit ago at breakeven. Bummer.

Nevertheless, I'm thrilled to be able to play the game and every day that I do, I feel lucky. If at the end of the week you feel like it has been "the longest in history," then you probably shouldn't be day trading in the first place.

Have a good weekend!

I feel like a SCHNook for not closing SCHN before getting stopped out on a jam job. I won't have as clever a name if I get taken out of HLIT and WFII in the same cynical way.

The dollar is putting in a huge move today and I'm glad that members of the Chairman's Circle are able to take advantage of the move via their short position in GG.

A few notes on dollar futures: Initial margin is $1,485 per contract. The minimum tick is .01 or $10, so a one point move is worth $1,000. Price has moved over one and a half points today, so that's a monster move. Even a small account carrying only 10 to 20 contracts would be having a good day today, assuming they were long.

OK, I'm taking off. See you at the close.

Oy vey, SCHN is hanging tough, I might get taken out of that one for a loss.

P-stop 45.51 SCHN (short). OK, that's enough.

P-stop 14.45 WFII (short).

P-stop 11.90 HLIT (short).

Folks often ask me why I don't use charts to make option trades, and the answer is that even the most actively traded options (like the QQQ options) aren't active enough to draw a useful chart.

Tone is poor -- I'm looking for an unusual suspect to short.

Remember, even if you wanted to short TASR, you couldn't because there isn't a single share to be borrowed anywhere.

Gentlemen, consider your ability to assess the future thoroughly scrambled!

Eyes on BEAS, CEGE, NGEN, TASR....

A friend urged me not to post any more "hot girl" picks during trading hours since they may "scramble men's ability to assess the future."

Brian Delp has been playing Nancy Wilson all morning at WBGO; today is her birthday. She's wonderful and I'm so pleased that Brian has been honoring her. (He has also been celebrating Walter Becker's birthday, which is nice for us Steely Dan fans.)

Played this morning:

• Nancy Wilson | On Green Dolphin Street
• Ramsey Lewis/Nancy Wilson | Peel Me a Grape
• Christian McBride | Aja
• Phil Upchurch | Jack of Speed
• Nancy Wilson | Never Will I Marry
• Don Braden | Kid Charlemagne
• Nancy Wilson | Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
• Nancy Wilson | But Beautiful

Stryker (SYK), Daily Chart

Over the last quarter, Mexico has been the second strongest foreign market that I follow. (Austria has been the strongest.)

iShares MSCI Mexico (EWW), Weekly Chart

After reviewing my recent trades, especially my ELN exit two days ago and again yesterday, I've been thinking about how best to manage the positions given shifts in tone. I've made some valuable conclusions, which I'll keep to myself. Suffice it to say, time of day is an important thing to keep in mind when the tone shifts.

Folks who think the Nasdaq is going to continue going up and up have to get realistic. The easy money has already been made, and if you missed it, too bad.

E-mini Nasdaq 100 futures (NQ), Daily Chart

Skilling Pleads Not Guilty to Fraud and Conspiracy

Dubya assumes the Warrior position. Other amusing poses available at Bush Yoga.

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