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8:30 AM Wednesday, February 1, 2006: Fortunately, www.WhiteHouse.gov exists, because I fell asleep very early on. Pres. Bush is not one of the great orators of all time. This is what he said on alternative energy:

So tonight, I announce the Advanced Energy Initiative -- a 22-percent increase in clean-energy research -- at the Department of Energy, to push for breakthroughs in two vital areas. To change how we power our homes and offices, we will invest more in zero-emission coal-fired plants, revolutionary solar and wind technologies, and clean, safe nuclear energy.

We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We'll also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years.

Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment, move beyond a petroleum-based economy, and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.

Of course, it's all nice words and few specifics. My stock recommendation yesterday was "I'd probably cash in my profits before he speaks, on the basis that, like sex, anticipation in the stock market is often better than realization."

Here is what happened to yesterday morning's recommendations. Most popped, many big time. If you're still in them, now might be a good time to get out. Now that news is out -- and it's so very light on specifics -- these stocks are likely to ease back. You'll be able to pick them up cheaper later one. For example, there is absolutely no justification for the huge pop in Pacific Ethanol (PEIX). The company is still losing more money each quarter than Carter had liver pills.

For now, we had a very good run.

One reader emailed me:

I’m not sure if it’s entirely your column that sent some of these alt fuels stocks up 50% in two days but if it did, congratulations. I don’t own any and the ones that are up the most are mostly wishful thinking so today’s admonition to take profits is a good one. This rally won’t last but I hope you profited from it.

Here's yesterday's pops:



Not surprised by the Google fall: And you shouldn't be either. I've published cautionary words on Google on January 18 and January 11. Irrespective, I can't see Wall Street falling completely out of love with Google after last night's disappointment. But I also don't see $500 any time soon.

Protect your kids online: Your kids are at serious risk when they surf the Internet unsupervised. Kids have been kidnapped, killed and molested because of the information they gave out about themselves on the Internet. The BIG recommendations are:
1. Keep the family computer in a common room, not in a child's bedroom.
2. Check what your kids are doing.
3. Warn them about the Internet.
4. Tell your kids never meet anyone in person whom they're "met" on the Internet. For more recommendations, click here.

Visiting the dentist: Flossing is boring. My dentist says, "No problem. Just floss the teeth you want to keep."

Pray that BlackBerry loses its patent battle: I hate my BlackBerry. It's among the worst-designed gadgets I've ever had the misfortune to own. Sadly, I still have a year or so's service on it. But if they lose, their patent suit, maybe Verizon will allow me to dump my BlackBerry data and get a Treo.

Fact of the day: There is more money being spent on breast implants and Viagra today than on Alzheimer's research. This means that by 2040, there should be a large elderly population with perky boobs and huge erections and absolutely no recollection of what to do with them.

The wife's cooking:
Wife: "The two things I cook best are meatloaf and apple pie."
Husband: "Which is this?"

The husband's honesty:
An 60-year old woman was arrested for shoplifting.
When she went before the judge he asked her, "What did you steal?"
She replied: a can of peaches.
The judge asked her why she had stolen them and she replied that she was hungry.
The judge then asked her how many peaches were in the can.
She replied six.
The judge then said, "I will give you six days in jail."
Before the judge could actually pronounce the punishment the woman's husband spoke up and asked the Judge if he could say something.
He said, " What is it? "
The husband said "She also stole a can of peas."

Recent column highlights:
+ Munich, the movie. A must-see. Click here.
+ Identity Theft precautions. Click here.
+ Dumb reasons we hold losing stocks. Click here.
+ How my private equity fund is doing. Click here.
+ Blackstone private equity funds. Click here.
+ Manhattan Pharmaceuticals: Click here.
+ NovaDel Biosciences appeals. Click here.
+ Hana Biosciences appeals. Click here.
+ All turned on by biotech. Click here.
+ Steve Jobs Commencement Address. The text is available: Click here. The full audio is available. Click here.
+ The March of the Penguins, an exquisite movie. Click here.
+ When to sell stocks. Click here.

Harry Newton

This column is about my personal search for the perfect investment. I don't give investment advice. For that you have to be registered with regulatory authorities, which I am not. I am a reporter and an investor. I make my daily column -- Monday through Friday -- freely available for three reasons: Writing is good for sorting things out in my brain. Second, the column is research for a book I'm writing called "In Search of the Perfect Investment." Third, I encourage my readers to send me their ideas, concerns and experiences. That way we can all learn together. My email address is . You can't click on my email address. You have to re-type it . This protects me from software scanning the Internet for email addresses to spam. I have no role in choosing the Google ads. Thus I cannot endorse any, though some look mighty interesting. If you click on a link, Google may send me money. Please note I'm not suggesting you do. That money, if there is any, may help pay Claire's law school tuition. Read more about Google AdSense, click here and here.
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