OSUR would have been a dud, probably a scratch, but IPXL would have been a nice play. Look at that lovely, low-risk entry off the second bar. I had to row 10K, but you had a chance to clean up with this puppy. Good night!

IPXL, 30 min. Chart

Tone still looks crappy to me, though not totally crapelicious. IPXL gave a nice spot to get short with a tiny bit of risk, as did OSUR later (looks like they're jamming it up now so that would probably be a tiny loser).

I've got to run... er, row now. Favor the short side and keep a close eye on old OSUR, IPXL, etc. See you later.

Tone looks a bit crummy, I'd favor the short side and have an eye on OSUR. IPXL also a possibility.

By comparison, I just got off the phone with Vanguard: zero wait time, zero muzak; got a courteous, professional telerep who was able to discuss knowledgeably some tricky compliance issues. (When Martha Stewart threatened to leave Merrill Lynch because of their muzak, I understood completely.)

If you have a business that relies on telereps, you'd better be damn sure they're good.

Cancelled Qcharts. Relatively painless wait time on hold, but phone was answered by an unprofessional, aggrieved female telerep. I had to drag a confirmation number out of her. Hey, I'd be a jerk too if I my job was answering the phone at Lycos. "And the reason you are cancelling your subscription?" "I think you know the reason, honey."

Eyes on IPIX (an Unusual Suspect), NPSP, TASR (a Usual Suspect), and VASC....

It's an absolutely gorgeous day here and I can't wait until I stop day trading. May not even wait around till April 1st with weather like this.

The entire script to Annie Hall.

Novatel Wireless is the first quarter's top-performer among the stocks I watch. (I learned about NVTL from Dave Jennings, who was on top of this stock early on.) Looks like there are sellers around the $21 mark, but there's no reason a long-term trend follower would exit this here, especially when his basis is under $5.

Novatel Wireless (NVTL), Daily Chart

Marc Faber writes in the FT: Be braced for a bust as bubbles look set to burst

He doesn't know when this bust will happen of course... Never forget that Faber is the guy who has predicted 27 of the last 5 busts.

Chinese manufacturers muscling in on Scottish cashmere. We are traveling to Scotland next week and hope to visit Johnstons. I will be wearing my Chinese cashmere sweater of course. (Eerduosi, the Chinese cashmere company, is listed on the Shanghai "B" market.)

News Reports for Ultra-Short Attentions. File under the Decline and Fall of Western Civilization.

On a related note, I surveyed the women I play poker with (whom I think of as representing "middle America") and they all said they are voting for Bush "because he's better looking."

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