[Boomer]

Aw Munc,

Now I feel so bad. Here I sit picturing you trying to type with those bloody stumps that are all that is left of your fingers.

Anyway, I kid you not, Munc. It really was 102% on some mutual fund. It was a brief and shining moment. I am going to have to dig around through old paperwork to see if I still have the name of that thing.

And Munc, it gets worse. Remember the scene in The Graduate where that guy says something to Dustin Hoffman to the effect of, "I've got one word for you -- plastics."

Well, Munc, I have to do a shameless confession here again. I used to say to Mr. B, "I've got one word for you -- tech."

Ohhhh, like I said. Hubris ain't purdy. That flying too close to the sun stuff just does not work out.

But he still lets me be his financial adviser. But I make him buy me dinner first.

And re. that hearing about, but never from, stuff where Mr. B is concerned -- Well, sometimes Mr. Boomer passes by my computer when I am pounding away with a fiendish smile on my face, and he says, "OK. Are you writing about the hapless Mr. Boomer again?" And I swear to him that he is never hapless in my little stories. But then he just wants to know if I am making any money writing stuff. And I have to tell him, "Nope. Still givin' it away."

But back to Scottrade. I just logged on and gave it some stocks to watch. It's a start.

Boomer