So here is the good the bad and the ugly. The good news is the government is going to extend jobless claims for the unemployed through the holiday. Of course no benefit for me , but I would be sad to know little Sally did not get her easy bake oven or little Joey his Playstation 3.

The bad of course is that unemployment continues to climb, and Citigroup axing 53,00 of its employees globally is not helping. The Associated Press reports that jobless claims in 2008 stand at 1.2 million and the jobless rate of private sector government workers stands at a 14 year high of 6.5 percent.

Now for the ugly. It probably is not news since the media is wearing it like the latest thing out of fashion week. But the stock market continues its decent. It shed over 400 points Thursday to close at 7552. I continue to be an optimist, although I will say I am probably in sparse company these days. I continue to invest and know that no one knows when it will go up. So if I feel a stock is a good deal now, it is an even better deal when the market pulls the share price down further. And I feel very confident that when things do recover  I will be happy with my choices. I am not suggesting you do the same , and always do your homework. Good luck!

- Matt