Date:    12/17/1999  8:25 AM

Subject: Leveling the Playing Field
 
Several years ago I was a novice at investing and talking to a friend 
about trading stocks. As it turned out his father was a broker on Wall 
Street. He was quite critical about my trying to beat CD's through 
investing saying that all the insiders had the critical news first and 
all the little traders just had to follow their brokers advice. Of 
course, the larger your account the more efficient your broker was in 
getting you into the right position.
     
Because of this experience and some other bad decisions on stocks, I 
began investing primarily in funds. I now go with the sector trends. 
(Thank goodness for webs, spyders and index instruments.)
     
We little traders have had to be content with watching for reactions to 
these announcements and  following at a distance.  This change in 
notifications will bring us closer to the big boys, and allow us to make 
our own decisions.
     
This is a good thing, but don't stop there. Keep up the leveling.
     
LM Orsborn