This is a very important post from the Gold-Eagle site.

FWIW Harry Schultz is predicting $50 by the end of Dec and a further 75-100% increase in the early new year.

Y2K, Oil & Bill Richardson (GOLDFINGER) Dec 09, 17:16 Forum,

Bill Richardson should be concerned about rising crude prices, but in reality there will be very little the U.S. can do to influence oil prices. The past 30 years have demonstrated this time and time again.

Here are some points to consider: Bear in mind I have been working as a Senior Petroleum Engineering Consultant in South America for the past 3 year (mostly in Venezuela and Colombia.....currently with one of the largest multi-nationals in the world), and previous to that I worked in the Persian Gulf.

1. First of all, I am very much inclined to agree with Harry Schultz's article from yesterday regarding his prediction that crude oil could doubled in price very soon (he is predicting possibly $50/bbl by Dec. 31st and $75 to $100 early in 2000). I think the following scenario will un-fold:.

a. Y2K creates oil shock.

b. stock market collapses due to oil shock....similiar to 1973/74 scenario.

c. precious metal prices go ballastic in reaction to collapsing stock markets.

2. Venezuela is by far the single largest supplier of crude oil imports to the U.S. Having worked there recently I observed the following;

a. majority of the wells require artificial lift. There are literally 10s of thousands of wells producing via gas lift and electric submersible pumps. Power outages are frequent at the best of times in Venezuela.

b. the words "equipment maintainence" are virtually non-existent in Venezuela.

c. Venezuela was 100% non Y2K compliant in March of this year, now they claim to be 100% Y2K compliant. I don't believe them for one moment! To my knowledge, they have done nothing in regards to Y2K testing.

d. Venezuela is severely cash-strapped. The government can barely pay it's workers.....so how can they check for Y2K compliance.

e. Because of artificial lift requirements (i.e. electrical power requirements) and lower well production rates I think the logistical infastructure is much more complicated, thus more vunerable, to Y2K than in many other producing nations around the globe.

3. The basket price for Venezuelan Crude (heavy oil) is considerally cheaper than West Texas Intermediate, Brent or Saudi light crudes. The U.S. has a cheap sources of crude, which they up-grade in U.S. domestic refineries for commercial purposes. I believe the real motive of Richardson to "drive down" energy prices is to conceal that inflation is here, and Y2K problems and a cold winter will exasperate the problem.

4. The Oil Company I am currently working with are anticipating problems (in their oversea operation in particular). To the best of my knowledge, they have conducted little if any Y2K testing. I am under the impression they shall fix the problems as they come up. So let me ask you all this: If a major multi-national company has spent minimal money on Y2K testing, what would you think cash strapped National Oil Companies have spent..........nothing!

5. On November 30th, 1999, the International Energy Agency (as reported by Reuters) has drawn up plans for global rationing of oil production.

6. The Middle Eastern producing countries export very little crude to the U.S. They could care less what the U.S. thinks, unless of course a problem were to spring up that would shut-off their taps (which would take another war). Some how I doubt that shall happen in the next 3 months.

Sorry Mr. Richardson, but unlike your buddies being able to manipulate the POG down they will not be able to do the same with the price of crude. Middle Eastern countries are wise enough not to trust the West. Historically, OPEC has only intervened in collapsing oil prices, not rising prices. Unlike the past when Middle Eastern producers were awash in petro-dollars, they now have debts to pay........Gulf War for example.

It is my understanding OPEC will not meet again until March 2000. I believe OPEC has stalled and will continue to stall their meetings due to Y2K concerns. OPEC is very much a re-active as opposed to pro-active organization. A collapsing stock market, thus a collapsing dollar would be in their interest so as to monitize U.S. dollar debts (similiar to what the U.S. did to Japan in the early '80s). As the dollar collapses relative to the Euro, producers can agree to be paid in Euros.

Saudi's Maaden purchasing the other half of Boliden Gold Mining Company (just before Y2K) is a tip-off (in my opinion) this game is coming to a conclusion.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999

Answers

Andy...YOU"RE ALIVE!!!

-- TM (mercier7@pdnt.com), December 10, 1999.

The talk of your demise was greatly excagerated. Even without your posts you are frequently referenced, hhhmmmm you have affected lots on both sides, congratulations. I believe there is a reference (Gordons earlier post?) to OPEC meeting March or later. This was verbally slapping the US comments on "high" price of gold and the potential release of the strategic reserves.

I am not so sure about the Euro part. Wouldn't it be more prudent to receive payment in gold. If the US stock market collapsed with the dollar why would Europe and the Euro be unscathed? I think the collapse of the dollar and US market would sink All currencies, even if the Euro is 20% backed by gold. This seems an empty promise. Either way this is truly a poker game with tremendous consequences to us all.

The elephants are dancing, and this little mouse is extremely nervous. Richardson's is only attempting to prop up the market because these fools actually think the emperors legacy is of greater importance than the Republic. Inflation can only be hidden so long with expanding M2, M3 numbers and the hundreds of billions at the all night option window coming to an institution near you. These fools in Europe are just as bad, they will sink with us whether they realize it or not. I'll let the boat we are in sink because you have a nicer spot in the boat. These people are scary.

Welcome back...

-- Squid (Itsdark@down.here), December 10, 1999.

Andy! You're back - good to see ya bloke!

As usual, you got that gold stuff on your mind again. :-) Where ya been?

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), December 10, 1999.

Andy,

EXCELLENT FIND. TERRIFIC INFORMATION. Can you get this guy to come and post here at TB 2000???

This info on Venzuela has confirmed much of what I'd heard from an old-time Wildcatter who took his company down to S. America frequently on drilling. Problem is that his information was at least 5 years old and of course things have changed a lot in the Oil biz in the last 5 years. This fellow's post however indicates much of what my retired wildcatter told me. He just wasn't aware of how much further embeddeds had been brought in to Venezuela in recent years. He also did not know if the electricity had become grown more reliable since his days.

His Point #4 is also particularly telling. I've got sources in a half dozen "majors" also saying the same thing about their co's, so this fellow's company is not alone. This is actually the norm for the industry.

Of course, if one follows the little troll -- LadyLogic's Uncle Joseph (an Oil barron in Western Kansas -- what? You didn't know Kansas was the oil capital of the world? Shame on you.)then we shouldn't have to worry about Venzuela or any other foreign oil source. We can just open up all those old capped wells in Kansas and turn on the tap. It only takes 28 days. Yeah, right.

Andy, Keep us posted if this guy adds anything further. I'd love to have him come post for us over here. I'd love to ask him some follow up questions AND provide further confirmations to the skeptics regarding the technical aspects of embeddeds.

-- R.C. (racambab@mailcity.com), December 10, 1999.

Andy dude, you're back! I thought we'd lost ya. Good to see you here again :)

-- Gia (laureltree7@hotmail.com), December 10, 1999.

NIce to see you have the casts off and they are letting you type a bit for therapy.

Was just wondering whether you'd miss the rollover on us....

Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), December 10, 1999.

Glad ta have Ya back Your Andyness!

We wuz worried sick 'bout y'all, and went thru AndyPost Withdrawl.

Truly painful to say the least.

But thanx for tonite's fix....I'll sleep better having been better- informed.

-- INVAR (gundark@sw.net), December 10, 1999.

Hey Andy!!!

Do I say thanks for this??? egads.

Nice to see you post again and hope all is well!

Mike

=====================================================================

-- Mike Taylor (mt4design@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Andy!? They let you have the 'puter back? Does this mean the bandages are off and the shackles unlocked? Egads lad, where you been. Always glad to see your posts. Trouble is, they always scare the bejesus out of me. But that's a good thing. I got family to worry about, and you keep the dial turned up on the electrodes. Welcome back.

-- Cash (cash@andcarry.com), December 10, 1999.

casts?

-- did (you@fall.down), December 10, 1999.

Great to see you back, "Cutting & Pasting", strong as ever, Cut & Paste. No one does it quite like you.

I seem to recall you were going on holidays courtesy of your gold profits...how was the walk around the park?? " Gold won't Boom 'till the Dow is Doom"

Bank on it

If you had got to London, you would've found great pubs, expensive beer, lots of froth and not much substance. Well, that was my experience.

-- Asking (Asking@a question.com), December 10, 1999.

Missed you Andy, and relieved to know you are okay!

-- Mumsie (shezdremn@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Sometime ago we used to have a regular on this forum. I think her name was Cheryl and she had moved to a farm in Southern Oregon. She and her exhusband had owned an oil company and she hob knobed with the biggys in the International OIl industry. She used to give us lots of info on oil. Does anyone else remember her? And what about DD1stlight? Where is she? Its slowly leaking out but it would be nice to have the whole picture in ones head before it hits. I know the pumps are going to go dry, but its nice to know and understand all that is going on behind the scenes and it won't be just because of y2k. We must be ever vigilant as to what the gubmint shoves down our throat in the name of Y2K. A hungry, scared, non mobile people can be maniputated soooooooo easily. And because of our pre y2k life style, few of us have a clue as to how to protect the integrity of our society and nation. Most people will be wandering around in a daze and those that aren't will be looking for means of survival. They none will be looking at what the gubmint is doing other than the food and water truck arrives on our corner a 9am Mon,Wed, and Friday.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassi123@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Good to read you again Andy!

Taz: You make a good point but what are some suggestions in addition to hunkering in the bunker?

-- Bill P (porterwn@one.net), December 10, 1999.

Andy, Thanks ?? for the post, and for coming back.Yours was one of just a handful of posters I would ALWAYS check!

on de rock

-- Walter (on de rock@northrock.bm), December 10, 1999.

So relieved to know the bail money was sufficient. The Canary Islands will never be the same

-- Old Git (anon@spamproblems.com), December 10, 1999.

lol git

your turn at the wheel for a while, andy

-- a (a@a.a), December 10, 1999.

Old Git, you surpass yourself.

Reports of my death have been greatly exagerrated :o)

Self-imposed exile for a bit - will be here for the next few weeks to see the ship go down :o)

Later,

P.S.

Asking - the beer was as good as ever.

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Andy-

I know I speak for everyone when asking of you this favor...

If you get a chance, could you post something for us about gold? Perhaps 60 or 70 new threads per week would bring us up to speed. Oh, and by the way, can you give us an update on the lizard people while you're at it?

Thanks

PS... Be sure and check the archives. There was a ton of stuff on the NWO spraying us with "mystery mist" via contrails. Really spooky. This kind of thing is right up your alley and I know you'll enjoy it.

-- CD (not@here.com), December 10, 1999.

Andy, Where were you, bud? Snubbing us?

-- Mara (MaraWayne@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

No, The Kansas Oil Wizard informed us that "oil is a fossil fuel". (Who would have thought?) And it only takes a few seconds for any buried organic matter to transform into hundreds of times it's original mass in crude oil. (or was it refined too? I forget)

Anyway, just put a spigot where you buried a dead pet, and PRESTO, millions of barrels of oil. (Be sure to install a shut-off valve or else the entire world will be drowned in a sea of oil.)

-- MegaMe (CWHale67@aol.com), December 10, 1999.

Andy -- Hoffy says the Deutsche Bank stuff has nothing to do with Y2K or those pesky settlement type issues we tried to educate him on all- those-many-months ago. Don't forget his South American tickets need to be purchased shortly ....

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), December 10, 1999.

Shouldn't LadyLogic be reading this post. I'd be interested in knowing what she has to say about this.

No disrespect intended, LL.

-- Familyman (prepare@home.com), December 10, 1999.

Andy, Hope you had a great time on your vacation. Your post above was VERY imformative. Glad you are back. Everytime I think about the gold/silver I bought I think about you. I feel a bit more secure knowing I have some and am very thankful for all your gold posts that helped me to decide to buy it. I believe it will go up when the market busts and even if not, it's REAL!

-- Debi (LongTimeLurker@shy.com), December 10, 1999.

Can someone provide a link to, or else post Harry Schultz's article referred to in the question?

Thanks

-- Rick (rick7@postmark.net), December 10, 1999.

Andy,

Welcome Back. I'm glad you'll be with us for the rollover.

On your advise I read 'In the Footsteps of Giants'. Good read. Interesting. But it presented absolutely ZERO evidence or backup to Another's anonymously posted contentions. As others have said, you are too quick to buy into a conspiracy theory. I'm not surprised this book is only available from a Gold dealer. I wouldn't be suprised if it wasn't written by one.

I wish most of these NYMEX & IPE traders were reading and acting on Schultz's oil market advice today. Jan crude down $1. OUCH! Now I know what you feel like with your perpetual gold length.

-- Downstreamer (downstream@bigfoot.com), December 10, 1999.

"Anyway, just put a spigot where you buried a dead pet, and PRESTO, millions of barrels of oil. (Be sure to install a shut-off valve or else the entire world will be drowned in a sea of oil.)"

ROFLMAO, MegaMe!! Thanks for today's laugh!

Andy, good to see you back. The End Game just wouldn't be the same without you.

-- (RUOK@yesiam.com), December 10, 1999.

I just checked my oil company's Y2K database. We made some progress this week. We've completed work on several more mission-critical systems. That only leaves 51 more to go.

Got gasoline?

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), December 10, 1999.

Rick...

The International Harry Schultz Letter

"The premier international financial, socio, geopolitical & philosophical newsletter"

Gold & Black Gold Per Harry Schultz

Gold "should" move up in late Dec, due to a likely pre-Y2K stk mkt fear selloff & a likely US$ price peaking out. Stks-down, $-down normally equal: gold-up. But gold's supply/demand forces have been both openly & covertly blocked by the establishment so far this year. They simply can't afford to allow a free-mkt gold price. The stakes are too high for them. And "them" hold the levers of power-- political, financial, media. They manipulate not only the gold price but the media to squash any Y2K fears, thus inhibiting a rush to quality. But gold's chart shows a bullish downwedge pattern & its correction has almost reached the vital 61.8% retracement number of 280, basis London PM fix. Price should hold there. If not, odds shift to test the summer low around 253.

The bullion-bank cannibals, who have been shorting gold (with the help of NY Fed Reserve Bank, & an OK from Greenspan), to cap the price & prevent a free mkt in gold, are unlikely to want to hold short positions during the year-end & year-start. BUT while speculators, hedge funds & private bullion banks may not want to be gold-short over year-end, the US govt may not mind. It has deep pockets (yours!) & doesn't mind the risk. It can spend all of your money it desires, to prevent a free gold mkt. Spitting into the wind doesn't bother govts.

But this is now becoming transparent & abhorrent to a growing number, so this illegal maneuvering by man&beast will be coming to an end soon. Either via a Y2K-meltdown of many banks &/or via a legal attack by GATA (Gold Anti-Trust Assn), who aim to bring into court the anti- trust violators, the mkt/price-fixers. A war chest is being filled to fund this. A major gold mine (whose name I haven't permission to quote) threw its $upport behind GATA last month. Others will follow. U too? Everyone should. Thanks Hugo for your $upport.

After decades of eating their young, gold producers have discovered something new: betting on gold, not against it. And gold shareholders have found their brains, & are demanding gold miners stop selling forward. When people buy a gold share they want a pure gold play, not a derivative crap shoot! People are selling Barrick (a derivative cutesy) & buying Agnico (a pure gold nugget). The charts prove which way the tide is turning: Barrick down, Agnico up. (Paul Penna is smiling down J)

Another good gold miner is Gold Fields of SoAfr. They disavow hedging, bought 12.5% of BofE 1st auction gold & big chunk of 2nd. Chairman Chris Thompson says "Hedges have largely contributed to low gold prices. It's folly for us all to continue to do so." 3 cheers! GF also listed on Nasdaq; Symbol: GOLD (catchy name, eh?). Chart says buy. Harmony of SoAfr is unhedged, disapproves of hedging. Newmont says never again will it do any hedging. Robt Chapman, Intl Forecaster, says (on gold-eagle.com): "From now, producers must reveal their hedges, or be sued. Unless demanded as a loan condition, producers should have under 12% hedged. Otherwise, they're gambling. Managers who hedge beyond that should be replaced & legal action brought against them." Amen. HSL instigated this attack on gold hedging 3 yrs ago, as a lone voice. Now it's almost mainstream, finally paying off. J

Felix Freeman, ScotiaMcLeod analyst, reports "The nature of gold buying is changing. Wealthier investors are buying large lots, often US$1-10mil, not for Y2K reasons but to exit equity mkts for capital preservation. Such buying hasn't been seen in size for 10 yrs." Big money smells a stk mkt meltdown. Cafi le Metropole reports drug dealers & money launderers are increasingly switching from $'s to gold as "gold gives them certainty." There's so much more to tell & not enough space. Always access gold news twice-wkly from gold- eagle.com & Tocqueville.com New bull mkts need a Wall of Worry to grow on. Gold has a big one. Vronsky of gold-eagle.com says "In early 1970's only 1 in 1000 were invested in gold. When gold hit $800, it was 50 per 1000. Now it's back to 1 in 1000. We predict the new gold bull mkt will increase that, thanks to the Net, to 100 per 1000." I agree. Buy the gold dips; they'll become gold chips!

Black Gold (crude oil)

The hard-core inflation fact is that commodities are rising, money supply is rocketing at historic rates, interest rates continue to rise month after month, incomes rise, & govt inflation indexes are being exposed as fraudulent. Money supply is quietly slipping into speculative stocks, artificially inflating mkt prices.

Oil is the giveaway clue. It has doubled in just a few months. I predict it will double very soon again, probably by Dec 31, to aprox US$50. And then rise another 50-100% to US$75-100 in early 2000. Only a govt price freeze & rationing can restrain/modify such a rise. Black mkts will flourish.

Oil brings us to the Y2K link in all this. The evidence is overwhelming for those willing to dig & then to believe what they find. Oil production & refining, due to Y2K unfixed & unfixable embedded chip systems, in every nation, will almost certainly suffer acutely. I forecast a drop in production of approximately 20%, & 25- 30% is not unlikely. Many oil men admit privately they're scared & most confess Y2K compliance is impossible so they're on a FOF program (Fix-On-Failure). If U read, as I have, the big oil companies reports to the US SEC (which must be honest as they are legally binding) they admit they can't assure production. Chevron tells SEC: "It's impractical to eliminate all potential Y2K problems before they arise." Shell says "no precedent exists as to the manner in which to fully detect & eliminate Y2K risks."

Exxon says critical operations or delivery failures may occur in the first few wks of 2000. And "Disruptions can't be reasonably estimated." Mobil tells SEC (but not the public): "There are an almost infinite number of additional risks which are simply not assessable & for which therefore contingency plans can't be developed. " And "A combination of failures could have a material adverse effect on Mobil's results of operations, liquidity &/or financial condition." Texaco says much the same as the others. Their PR depts however sing a different song. They say none of the above. Mike Adams, editor of Y2K Newswire, says the oil press releases will not use the phrase "Y2K-compliant". All will use qualifiers such as "Things should work" or "We believe things will work." None will guarantee the worst-case scenarios in their SEC filings won't happen.

A key point here is that govts (eg, the US) are saying everything is under control, whereas the oil companies have said (to the SEC) the worst-case scenarios are largely outside their control. Oil must be pumped, delivered (eg, by tankers & pipelines) & refined. All 3 processes are extremely Y2K- vulnerable. Every oil producing nation claims compliance; all are lying. What country, asks analyst Mike Adams, will stand up & say "We're not compliant" & instantly lose its export mkt? If U recall it was an oil supply drop of only 6% in 1973 that resulted in the sharp 1973-74 recession & mkt crash of those years. An oil supply cut of 20% guarantees a depression, not a recession. Most oil comes from 3rd world nations which all agree are not Y2K-ready. But neither are US oil producers. If U are a raging optimist, cut my projection in half, to 10%. That's still far worse than 1973-74 recession's cause. And this time stock mkts are in la-la land, making them capable of folding the global house of financial cards.

There are enough insiders who are not blind who have been buying oil futures/options to keep the spot price moving as far as the eye can see. I've recommended it as my #1 pick in HSL for months (oil, not oil shares). Amex Oil Index is at all-time high. Oil distillate stocks (supply), including heating oil, recently fell sharply. WSJ reports petrol stockpiling. Oil-dependent airlines are hedging in oil- -that pushes price up. Are airlines a logical shortsale? One study shows 75% of embedded devices in large oil wells & pipelines are inaccessible for compliance testing. Petrol rationing is possible, as pump prices rise. Will oil alone cause inflation? And how can U have depression & inflation at the same time? Inflation is already well underway, underneath govt's faultily structured indexes. And govt wants them that way, for fiscal & political reasons. Inflation is really currency devaluation, is ongoing, has destroyed savings for 2 generations, & is part of govt policy, since 1913. I'll reveal more when space allows. But oil shortages will cause shortages of thousands of products that are made from oil &/or need oil to move goods from A to B. So scarcity will crop up all over the place, but spotty. Many prices will fall, where scarcity isn't a factor (eg, property, jewelry, luxury goods), while others riselike many foodstuffs.

Harry Schultz

http://www.HSLetter.com hsl.mentor@skynet.be Tel +32 (for Belgium) 16 533 684 -- Fax +32 16 535 777 Postal address: HSL, PO Box 622, CH-1001 Lausanne, Switzerland

8 December 1999

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Andy-

I know I speak for everyone when asking of you this favor...

If you get a chance, could you post something for us about gold? Perhaps 60 or 70 new threads per week would bring us up to speed.

******* You stick with your CD's, I'll stick with Au... *******

Oh, and by the way, can you give us an update on the lizard people while you're at it?

******* Yes of course. www.davidicke.com *******

Thanks

PS... Be sure and check the archives. There was a ton of stuff on the NWO spraying us with "mystery mist" via contrails. Really spooky. This kind of thing is right up your alley and I know you'll enjoy it.

-- CD (not@here.com), December 10, 1999.

******* Hope you managed to suck in some vaccine. You should be OK if so. *******

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Andy,

Welcome Back. I'm glad you'll be with us for the rollover.

On your advise I read 'In the Footsteps of Giants'. Good read. Interesting. But it presented absolutely ZERO evidence or backup to Another's anonymously posted contentions.

******* I disagree completely. These machinations are transparent to peons like you and me. That doesn't mean they don't happen or that is the status quo. *******

As others have said, you are too quick to buy into a conspiracy theory.

******* Oil for gold is the most basic of no-brainers... hardly a conspiracy DS. Occams razor. ******

I'm not surprised this book is only available from a Gold dealer. I wouldn't be suprised if it wasn't written by one.

******* I've been following another and foa for a while now and have read all of the archives. their timing may be a little off, there are so many parties involved it has been likened to herding cats - nevertheless all that they have predicted is gradually falling into place... they are not perfect but are closer to the truth than anyone else on the net. *******

I wish most of these NYMEX & IPE traders were reading and acting on Schultz's oil market advice today. Jan crude down $1. OUCH! Now I know what you feel like with your perpetual gold length.

******* Au contraire DS. Allowed me to pick up a whole bunch of crude options at a substantial (giveaway) discount. We'll see very soon who is right. *******

-- Downstreamer (downstream@bigfoot.com), December 10, 1999.

Later,

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Hi BigDog,

"Andy -- Hoffy says the Deutsche Bank stuff has nothing to do with Y2K or those pesky settlement type issues we tried to educate him on all- those-many-months ago. Don't forget his South American tickets need to be purchased shortly ....

-- BigDog (BigDog@duffer.com), December 10, 1999."

I have no clue what you are talking about - I presume settlement in Germany got screwed due to a y2k-compliant s/w load, right?

ho ho ho.

It's gonna be a mess, I hope just not a fatal mess.

Later,

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Thanks everyone for your kind thoughts - hope the trolls have got bored and wandered off.

Onward!

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Hmm, some more grim news on the oil situation. There certainly has been a fair (or perhaps I should say ugly) amount of that lately. I remember that GartnerGroup's report in August politely suggested that many overseas governments and companies were probably lying through their teeth about the extent of their Y2K progress. Whether Venezuela and its oil sector have been less than honest should soon be evident.

"The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."--Mark Twain (1897).

Yes, but now Mark Twain really *is* dead--has been for lo these 89 years. (Well, Samuel L. Clemens is dead anyway--Mark Twain was never "alive" except as a fictive persona and therefore can't really die, right?) There's a moral in all that somewhere, but you would have to blast for it. While down there you might strike oil, too. Or gold. :)

The next few weeks should prove very interesting, one way or another. In the meantime, here's another Twain oldie but goodie, from his autobiographical dictations:

"People ought to start dead and then they would be honest so much earlier."

P.S. Cyclops, I mean Sysops: You really shouldn't let a Mark Twain "scholar" visit this forum. It lowers the tone of the whole place.

-- Don Florence (dflorence@zianet.com), December 10, 1999.

LOL Don!

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 10, 1999.

Hey there,Andy. Been putting any rounds downrange with that Glock?Lean,mean,and 9x19!

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), December 11, 1999.

Not lately Zoobie - saving ammo... once the adrenalin starts I'm just as likely to shoot myself in the goolies...

-- Andy (2000EOD@prodigy.net), December 11, 1999.

Twain was in London in May 1897, and his cousin, James Ross Clemens, had been ill. This gave rise to the rumor that he was dying. Twain sent a note to a friend clarifying the situation:

"James Ross Clemens, a cousin of mine, was seriously ill two or three weeks agoin London, but is well now. The report of my illness grew out of his illness; the report of my death was an exageration. MARK TWAIN."

Later that day said friend called on Twain. "Of course I'm dying," Twain said, "but I'm not dying any faster than anybody else."

And here's one for you, Chuck. One of the famous quotes that Twain didn't say:

"When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cleveland because it's always twenty years behind the times."

Godspeed,

-- Pinkrock (aphotonboy@aol.com), December 11, 1999.