quote:

ORIGINAL: hizgeorgiapeach

Shit no I'm not the eldest, Popeye!  My nincompoop brother is 16 months older than me Physically - developmentally, well, he never seems to have made it past about 16 which is when  he became deeply immersed in the drug culture.  The fact that both our parents were Only Children makes it Somewhat easier - after all, there's no aunts/uncles/cousins screaming "where's my share" - but that also means that there's literally on one else TO take on any of the responcibility.
 
At this point, I'm looking at pulling Everything out of the market, and turning it into real properties.  It was something that dad and I had discussed as a potential prior to the stroke, and now it looks even more practical.  Buy some land outside of town that's either minimally "improved" or completely unimproved, and then start working quietly to get a small place built there that's completely self sufficient. Gold and Silver bullion.  That sort of thing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: hizgeorgiapeach

Shit no I'm not the eldest, Popeye!  My nincompoop brother is 16 months older than me Physically - developmentally, well, he never seems to have made it past about 16 which is when  he became deeply immersed in the drug culture.  The fact that both our parents were Only Children makes it Somewhat easier - after all, there's no aunts/uncles/cousins screaming "where's my share" - but that also means that there's literally on one else TO take on any of the responcibility.
 
At this point, I'm looking at pulling Everything out of the market, and turning it into real properties.  It was something that dad and I had discussed as a potential prior to the stroke, and now it looks even more practical.  Buy some land outside of town that's either minimally "improved" or completely unimproved, and then start working quietly to get a small place built there that's completely self sufficient. Gold and Silver bullion.  That sort of thing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

And Gris you're right on about Bob Hope.

(It's a gift...even I don't know how I do it sometimes).

Real estate has made more people wealthy in this country than anything.

I've made very good money in all of my businesses...but, like Hope (and on a vastly smaller scale)...nothing like I've made in real estate.

Real estate, contrary to popular opinion...is a very sweet gig :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: thornhappy

(fast reply to the economics portion)

The major reason for the jump in oil was due to an interest rate change in Europe, which weakened the dollar.  Since oil is tied to the dollar, oil prices jump.

"The dramatic reversal in what had been a weakening oil market began Thursday after ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet suggested the bank could raise interest rates and the euro climbed against the dollar. When interest rates rise in Europe, or fall in the U.S., the dollar tends to weaken against the euro. Many traders buy commodities such as oil as a hedge against inflation when the dollar is falling, and a weaker dollar makes oil cheaper for investors dealing in other currencies. Analysts believe the dollar's protracted decline has been a major reason why oil prices have nearly doubled in the past year."(http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/5822312.html)

We should be buying back greenbacks or doing other measures to strengthen the buck.

thornhappy