Today is my first day to buy stock using the stock purchase plan I developed to evaluate good and cheap stocks. I had decided to buy PWEI and RAIL, but PWEI got bought yesterday so I am going with RAIL and WIRE. I will track it against an equivalent amount of an S&P Index fund, ^GSPC. I will try to do my purchasing around the fifteenth of each month when I have enough money together to do so. I have January, February, and almost enough for March covered. This is VERY good timing because Christian, Kelly, and I started reading a great little book about economics theory based on the “Austrian” school of economic thought that is associated with Friedrich von Hayek and the “Monetarist” whose leading proponent was Milton Friedman who just recently passed away. The name of the book is What Ever Happened to Penny Candy? by Rick Maybury. The subtitle of the book says it all: A Fast, Clear, and Fun Explanation of the Economics You Need For Success in Your Career, Business, and Investments. It is a fun read and we are learning a lot. I am going to try follow this book up with an investing book so that I can explain why and how to invest in a fun way. We will track these stock picks as a part of the course work.

It rained and froze last night, so there will be no government school again in Albany. It is really nasty out there. I almost fell down when I got out of my car to walk into work. I called Lorena and told her to stay home.