Star Wars: The Next Generation

* A Star Wars TV show?

* Ah, market sold off today. That's more like it. You know, I was starting to feel a little giddy. After thursday's big run last week, we had a down day friday but the close was strong. Monday was up, sold off, and then closed strong. I was starting to wonder if the big boys had changed their tune and were buying in the last half-hour or so. But today, we went out on the bottom tick. Blech.

* Monthly strength begins on thursday through next thursday, as 401(k) money hits. At least, that's the thought. All the folks who dollar-cost average in every month, rain or shine, usually cause the market to drift up during this time.

* An interesting tidbit from the Star Wars article linked above, is that the Star Wars movies are really "The Darth Vader Story."

* Folks take an awful lot of vitamins and supplements. That's a bunch of money.

* I have a friend who supposedly has chronic fatigue syndrome. Fatigued a lot of the time. Has had bunches of tests by various doctors. Then, she goes to a guy who says "Lets try an anti-depressant." She thought he was a quack because she says she's not depressed, but she was willing to try anything. Shazaam, she's like a new person. Chemical imbalance or something.

* Tonight? Oh yeah, American Idol, Amazing Race, and Veronica Mars... Hoohah!

* Did you watch 24 last night? The story line is ridiculous, but it's addictive. (More and more ridiculous, I might add.)

* Diet news? Okay, Greeks and the Mediterranean diet. People with heart disease who stick to a so-called Mediterranean diet -- heavy on fish and vegetables, and low on saturated fats -- tend to live longer than those who follow different diets, new research suggests.

* Let me get this straight: Houston goes into Dallas, and is up in the best-of-seven series 2-0? T-Mac and Yao, baby.

* Steve Kerr has a blog?

* I think a big issue going forward will be pensions and health care for workers. Looks like American companies are finding it hard to compete in the global environment, and have made lots of promises regarding pensions and health care, that will be tough to keep. And should they throw their pensions to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC), retirees may get less than what they've been promised.

* More politics? I didn't like to see Bush walking hand-in-hand with the Saudi Crown Prince. The faster we get off of imported oil, the better. Drill in ANWR. Drill offshore. Build nuclear plants. Whatever it takes to tell the OPEC losers to TAKE A HIKE! I'd love to see more conservation and alternative energy, but until then we have to have a Plan B.

* More politics? I think Social Security reform is dead, Jim.

* I like the use of "so-called" in a story. It adds an ounce of skepticism. "So-called Mediterranean diet." "So-called bull market." "So-called virgin."