While I don't have a lot of time to diversify my portfolio as much as I would like, I know I need to do more than just buy gold and oil. Sometimes that is scary. Why? Because no one knows when this market is going to start acting "normal" again. (And yes, I do believe trillions of U.S. dollars will put people to work and that will mean people will buy things, and that means that we will re-stimulate the economy: I don’t have time to debate politics here, but whether you like Obama, Franklin D. Roosevelt, or “Spending” or not, if passed, and given time, these plans have a very high likelihood of success.

As one economics professor noted, it is a common misperception that it “took WWII to get America out of the Great Depression.” WRONG. In fact, if you had hired and paid millions of Americans to build airplanes, warships, fatigues, etc. and then simply dumped them into the ocean (instead of engage in war) this TOO would have stimulated the economy…thus Japan, during its own recent recession implemented similar tools to ensure people were working (without a war)...and now their yen is one of the stronger world currencies).

Earlier this year I commented that Tele Norte (TNE) looked like it might offer investors a value after buying/merging shares of Brasil Telecom (BTM). Although I did not predict the huge drop in the fall, I would say that, for the long-term investor (those holding for approximately a year up to three years or so), TNE looks ripe.

I myself have decided to try to see if I can balance a few quicker trades. If one is interested in avoiding some of the complexities of the financials, then commodities might be way the to go. Although I might sell at any time, the market may change quickly, and you should do your own due dilgience, I've recently found that Pengrowth Energy Trust (PGH) and Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX) were good values.

Seeking Alpha recently published an excellent article by J. Christoph Amberger called "Brasil Telecom a Steal Below $35".

Since then, the merger he discussed is even more likely to be approved, and this is likely to increase the synergy of Brasil Telecom (BTM) and related components that will form a huge Brazilian telecom company. Nonetheless, the stock price has recently met some resistance.