Quick Hits

• Ugh.  Monday.  The forecast for Sacramento all this week... RAIN!  Drove through it on the commute in.  But the good news is that the weekend weather was pretty fantastic.  Won't help the folks on levee watch around this valley, though.  River levels are very high and some levees south of Sacramento are in danger.
• OK, quick market thoughts... It's pre-options week, and this tends to be a shakey weak.  Especially if we've rallied in the prior weeks.  The Black Box continued to show some worries about the market.  After selling all my tech, semis and small cap growth on thursday last week, I have cash sitting on the sidelines at the ready for something.  The good news is that money market rates are up, so being on the sidelines isn't as big of a bore-fest as in previous years.  Earnings season kicks off this week so that should create some volatility and afterhours drama.
• Disney is going to offer some of their programming for free via the internet.  (Desperate Housewives, Lost...).  At least for a two month free trial.  They think the advertisements will make it cost effective.  I dunno, I fast forward through commercials when I record something on my DVR.  Don't you?  But I guess we should keep that lil' secret between us.
• Speaking of DVR, Lenny Dykstra made his Fox Bulls and Bears debut on saturday. Oh my goodness.  Did you see that?
• France scraps the youth employment law.  If you've been following this, this was France's attempt at addressing their chronic unemployment problem.  The problem is especially acute with young folks, where the unemployment rate is over 20%.  This new law would let companies fire folks.  The problem is that French companies don't want to hire workers because they can't get rid of them when business slows of if the worker turns out to be a poor performer.  I guess this means that those protesting the laws are happy being unemployed.  I can't think French companies would rush out and hire folks in this kind of environment.