The only 'cloud' in CIEN's earnings seems to be they missed on revs, but the bulk of good news outweighed that. The premiums which were rich yesterday are much lower today, and that's been the pattern the last two CC's - might be a 'rinse and repeat' money maker, as they likely will continue to perform well - at least the odds are in their favor.

Also caught part of a story out of the corner of my eye saying some minister in the French govt. was roayally pissed at something NOK's departing CEO did....something - sounded like it had to do with his golden parachute farewell package - didn't quite look closely, so I may not have that right at all.

I've been pondering whether to take a stake in gold forever. I *think* the best way to play it might be Barrick Gold (ABX), but it's bumping down against 12 months lows. I'd think gold *has* to come in favor again sometime, altho it may be a buy and need to wait idea, and the battering seems rather brutal, without signs of a bottom, and failed rallies. Wonder if anyone has the same desires about gold and thought about what vehicle and which entry point to make.

Yes, commodities, including gold have been terrible ideas. And Jim Roger's rep to me is beginning to tarnish - at $2000/oz he said he hopes that if it went to $1500/oz., he'd be a buyer of gold. But every time it has sunk lower, he's not bought in, but repeated that 'if it goes to x, I hope I'm smart enough to buy' - rinse and repeat. I think his latest idea was to wait until it was under $1,000/oz. And I don't think we're there yet. His dilly-dallying concerns me, as he's refusing to put his money where his mouth is. I know some folks think Rogers is a charlatan, but I've got some respect for him - he has often been ahead of the market in his calls - e.g., in the mid-1980's he was saying that China would become an economic giant no matter what events happened - and people thought he was a loon.