• Would "personal reasons" include not wanting to be on the board of a bank that might go under (not saying they will--note the "might") while your dad is running for President?

  • Was Merrill Lynch (MER) the definition of “you can learn a lot just by watching” yesterday?

  • If other banks mark their holdings to market at 22 cents on the dollar—which they seemingly have to do—how many toe tags will we see?

  • For those that survive, doesn’t that leave the door open to “mark-ups” once a whiff of positive news waffles through the mortgage market?

  • Is the most significant element of the Merrill news the fact that foreign buyers have awoken after a long—and costly—slumber?
  • Or is it the fact that, hidden in the fine print, we learn that Merrill will be financing 75% of the purchase price of it's CDO portfolio to the affiliate of Lone Star Capital (and it will be the only holding in said affiliate)?
  • In other words, if the value of the CDO holdings melts even still, isn't Merrill still on the hook?
  • Have you read Professor Bennet Sedacca’s tremendous “Fishing for Bailouts” vibe?

  • What will President Tyler have in store for us today?

  • Do we have to see a probe lower before a try higher (given yesterday's action)?

  • If she and Stella can get their groove on, wouldn’t that be a strong first step towards a technically significant higher low?

  • If and when that arrives, will you remember to view the dew through the appropriate frame of reference?

  • When will the mainstream media figure out credit problems—not car problems—are what ails General Motors (GM), Toyota (TM) and Ford (F)?

  • Who’s gonna buy the Hummer?

  • What'll come first—the fingers or the dike?

  • How come I think of Uncle Buck every time I see the stock Molex?

  • Is anyone else ready for the "other side" of the prolonged period of socioeconomic malaise?

  • Will Redemption Songs play one year after the fact?

  • Is this the most outrageous moment in television history?

  • While I see the credit default swaps percolating in Washington Mutual (WM), what does it say that the stock is green in the face of short-sellers everywhere I look?

  • Too smart to buy it and too scared to short it?

  • Has it really been 42 years to the day since Adam Harrison was born? (Happy Birthday brother and enjoy the Boss!)

  • Are they holding the equity-wide short-tick rule in their back pocket for when they "need" it most?

  • Or is that what they want us to think?

  • Him doesn't like it when we talk about this, does him?

  • If someone screamed about the risks in Fannie and debt and derivatives in 2004, would anyone remember?

  • Are 10-20% intraday moves in big cap stocks bullish any way you slice it?

  • Am I dreaming with the Silver and Black Favre thang?

  • Is anyone else amazed, simply amazed by how quickly time passes?

  • When’s the last time you “Did something Joel?”

  • Can you please circle Thursday, December 4th (not yet locked) for the Minyanville Festivus for Children's Education?


R.P.