I am still slowly digesting Boone Pickens' "The First Billion Is The Hardest." I'm currently reading a chapter entitled "The Bottom Of The Canyon," which is a great metaphor of the current economy. Pickens talks about how he views investments and day traders. "To make the big money, I've found it's best to take a long-term view, stay focused, and not get spooked by the temporary fluctuations in the market. When I have the odds in my favor, I put my money up and keep it up. If the fundamentals change, I get the hell out of there." Pickens says that most people panic when the markets start to fluctuate. However, he says that if you panic, you'll lose, no questions asked. And that leads us to Booneism #11 in the book: I told a friend, "This is the kind of market that builds character." He looked at me and said, "If it gets any worse, you'll have more character than Abe Lincoln." Well, investors, it looks like this is the kind of market that builds character! So put on your stove pipe hats and make the most of it! –Lindsay Goodier, Online Editor, OilandGasInvestor.com; www.OilandGasInvestor.com; lgoodier@hartenergy.com