BUY: GLBL (NASDAQ), DBRN (NASDAQ), ARRS (NASDAQ), ARP (NYSE), LCAV (NYSE)

All total transaction prices include a $15.00 commission.

• Purchased 140 shares of Global Industries Ltd (GLBL) at $23.61/share = $3,320.40.
• Purchased 209 shares of Dress Barn Inc (DBRN) at $15.85/share = $3,327,65.
• Purchased 275 shares of Arris Group Inc (ARRS) at $12.05/share = $3,328.75.
• Purchased 161 shares of American Reprograpics Co (ARP) at $20.61/share = $3,333.21.
• Purchased 118 shares of LCA Vision Inc (LCAV) at $27.88/share = $3,304.84.

Transaction summary:

• Total transaction costs: $16,614.85
• Final bank account: $14.73

Portfolio:

• UIC: 49
• CONN: 105
• HGT: 102
• WIRE: 117
• IPS: 27
• SHOO: 81
• IIIN: 138
• LMS: 82
• KSWS: 70
• WON: 338
• TTES: 175
• ALDA: 172
• EGY : 502
• OPMR: 314
• USMO: 135
• GW: 400
• TCK: 77
• RAIL: 68
• ASPV: 180
• AVR: 230
• MEOH: 136
• NUE: 55
• HOG: 49
• ESV: 50
• AEO: 123
• GLBL: 140
• DBRN : 209
• ARRS : 275
• ARP: 161
• LCAV: 118

Total "account value" including cash is $88,803.12, a slight uptick from two months ago when it sat at $84,098 but still far cry from the optimism of $97,247.88). Some of the increase is due to market (over) optimism created by the Fed's egregious 50 basis point in the overnight rate. There is another FOMC meeting on Tuesday but, whatever they do, things don't look too good for the US economy in 2008.

No prognostication this time. I will try in the December posting to put the total performance to date in context with major indices &c. However, one thing I really want to do is take a simplified approach to selection for the next 3 periods: just pick 5 at random from the top 25; total picking time: 5 minutes. I'd like to see how my screening attempts bias the results.