Highest-rated (number order) 15 of 60 listed reader-recommended topics for the "Focus" Survey

(#5 ) Developing more useful securities trading sentiment indicators
(#10 ) Economics: global deflation/inflation
(#16 ) Economy & stocks: Europe, including the future of the EU
(#23 ) Fundamental Analysis; reading between the lines (management brochures, figures)
(#32 ) Key indicators of stock cycles, key market drivers, weighting of market drivers
(#35 ) Money Flow (Stocks; Commodities; Real estate; Currencies; Bonds)
(#38 ) Options Trading; Techniques, use in trading for all time horizons
(#40 ) Potential dangers for system failure in capital markets
(#41 ) Psychology of trading
(#46 ) Sector rotation and intra-market analysis
(#50 ) Sector specific investing ideas: Gold (all aspects)
(#55 ) Systematic vs. Active (discretionary) trading
(#57 ) Trade entry and exit tactics for maximizing profit
(#58 ) Trading Strategies & Tactics: Using common sense & avoiding the snake oil
(#59 ) Trend & Cycles Analysis (stock cycles, business cycles, interest rate cycles, forex cycles) for market timing

Lowest-rated 17 of 60 (number order) listed reader-recommended topics for the "Focus" Survey
(#2 ) Broker ratings; Full service v. online brokerages debate
(#9 ) Economics: Fed and Greenspan watch
(#11 ) Economics: perpetual war monetizes debt bubble
(#12 ) Economics: Policies of Central Banks
(#19 ) Economy & stocks: Russia
(#24 ) Hedge Trading, Portfolio Pairs Trading - Long GM / Short Ford example
(#26 ) Information "for-dummies": cost-efficient trading for small investors
(#27 ) Information "for-dummies": pros/cons of being expat investors
(#30 ) International stocks: popular ADR's
(#34 ) Microcap and Penny Stocks (love them or leave them?)
(#36 ) Mutual funds v. ETF-only investing (or "Is there any reason to use Mutual Funds anymore?")
(#43 ) Regulators: Spitzer, SEC management, policies, need to reform
(#44 ) Retirement and Estate Planning
(#48 ) Sector specific investing ideas: Dot-com or Dot-bomb
(#49 ) Sector specific investing ideas: Foreign Telecom Company
(#51 ) Sector specific investing ideas: Leisure Markets
(#53 ) Sector specific investing ideas: Top 5 North American Banks To Hold 20 Yrs

Here are the seven reader-selected topics:

The top seven reader-recommended topics for the "Focus" Survey:

(tie for 1st): Trade entry and exit tactics for maximizing profit
(tie for 1st): Trend & Cycles Analysis (stock cycles, business cycles, interest rate cycles, forex cycles) for market timing
3rd: Key indicators of stock cycles, key market drivers, weighting of market drivers
(tie for 4th): Economics: global deflation/inflation
(tie for 4th): Options Trading; Techniques, use in trading for all time horizons
(tie for 4th): Sector specific investing ideas: Gold (all aspects)
(tie for 4th): Trading Strategies & Tactics: Using common sense & avoiding the snake oil

As a result, each week as noted, I will try to focus my articles on one topic per week, as noted below.

For that week for that "Focus" topic, I will post an article asking for reader questions and comments. I'll also post another article that week for readers to send in links to articles or research they believe other readers might find interesting reading.

The only way the reader part of this new feature will work, unfortunately, is for those who wish to participate to either register for comments, or ask me to register you so you don't get spam return mail. As of next week, I will cut off the unregistered comments because I have been spending too much time approving the good ones and deleting the bad ones. Last week I did cut off the trackback feature because MT Publishing (the software I use for blogging) cannot manage to stop the spam. Those spam artists are known, and the fact is they don't mind being identified because they are unafraid of being arrested for being the criminals they are. That is a sad commentary on how indifferent our society has become. So, all the spamsters do now, whenever they get blacklisted, is to register a new url. The extra cost is nothing for people involved in organized crime.

So, for the next seven weeks, here is the "Focus" agenda:

Week #26 (Jun 25-Jul 1): Trend & Cycles Analysis (stock cycles, business cycles, interest rate cycles, forex cycles) for market timing
Week #27 (Jul 2-Jul 8): Trade entry and exit tactics for maximizing profit
Week #28 (Jul 9-Jul 15): Key indicators of stock cycles, key market drivers, weighting of market drivers
Week #29 (Jul 16-Jul 22): Sector specific investing ideas: Gold (all aspects)
Week #30 (Jul 23-Jul 29): Options Trading; Techniques, use in trading for all time horizons
Week #31 (Jul 30-Aug 5): Economics: global deflation/inflation
Week #32 (Aug 6-Aug 12): Trading Strategies & Tactics: Using common sense & avoiding the snake oil

Rather than make a further commitment, let's try it for seven weeks, and then re-assess. As the readership numbers are growing, in six weeks I can re-survey the readership to give me six more key topics you'd like me to focus on one week in every quarter.

Maybe at that time, I might even bump it to two "focus" groups per week. I mean, doing this has to be a two-way street. If you tell me you want it, and contribute comment, questions and links to articles and research, then I'll do it.

You know, I started this blog thinking it was for me. Then I realized, when I was thinking of quitting, that I'm doing it for us.

As for me today, the surgeon says I'm ok. He removed one colon polyp and treated another. Both non-malignant. He even showed me the before and after shots in color on the big screen, and asked me to come back in two years.

But then he said something important about his own future: "I might not be here in two years; I'm 62 and there is a lot I'd like to do in my life while I'm still able to do it." What a terrific outlook; he is so deserving. I hope to see him in two years, but if not, because of preventative medicine like a simple colonoscopy, I expect to be around to meet his replacement.

When I went to see my parents on the weekend, I left feeling really grim. But when I returned yesterday, both were alert and talkative. Rather than keeping private rooms in both hospital and nursing home, Dad is being moved today back to the Lodge. The surgeons refused to do another operation, but for now he has improved on his own. Mom made her own decision some 18 months ago to refuse chemotherapy, deciding instead to prolong the best months she knew she had left. The past six months has been day-to-day, really for both of them, but at least they are fairly comfortable, and receiving excellent care.

But, as you know, this experience has had a big impact on me. There are many days go by when I am thankful I have the same resolve (Scottish-Irish) and emotion (Italian) that my parents gave me.

Finally, in addition to the new "Focus" feature, I am getting a little closer (maybe two weeks away) from having a new summary Trend & Cycles Report ready to start publishing.