I'm employed by a local governmental agency in the Pacific Northwest . My position involves front line public contact and enjoys protection with a strong union contract . I became interested in the financial realm in the last 3 years listening to ,His Emninance,Jim Cramer,on his radio show .I fallowed the street .com and even subscribed to action alerts plus for a year . I was infatuated with him but inspired by his hunt for the Bull Markets and observed his call on oil pay off . I day traded a $2000 pot for a year breaking even . I considered myself lucky and withdrew .I was encouraged by Cramer's critiques of officials and agencies but disheartened by the lack of effect and his wing clipping at cnbc. I commenced trading in the winter of 08 enjoying the fluctuations of the market . I worked up a $600 surplus but drank the cool aid watching the wamu chief lie on tv . Suffering a $1200 loss I withdrew from trading . I began fallowing S A and its contributors . the experience is amazing and mind boggling .We're running on fumes and less yet time goes on .