Value Microcaps BTHB08

[lentinman]

BREAK THE HANK BANK 2009 (BTHB09) CONTEST:

There will be a contest for 2009. I apologize for running out of gas late this year on reporting, but I'm passing the torch to my younger fully-brain-functioning counterpart - SSK. He will provide the weekly updates. I'll try to keep the IBoxes up to date as I do on PSL10.

There are some changes in the rules, but the basic idea of an annual contest that rewards picking stocks for a longer term is still very much the emphasis of BTHB.

Also, Hank has generously offered $100,000** to the winner.

The deadline for making your picks is Jan 9th. The contest begins on January 12th and will end on December 11th. So that this does not interfere with PSL11, the deadline on it will be moved to January 23rd with a January 26th start date.

Here are the rules:

1) The minimum price for a stock will be 10 cents. Part of the reason for that is that it was $1.00 for BTHB08, but since stocks have lost 90% of their value, yesterday's $1.00 is today's 10 cents. I'm only partly being facetious.

2) Any stock over $1 does not require earnings. Stocks under $1 must meet the VMC earnings requirement.

3) Contestants are given one transaction each month. Unlike PSL, where a Freeze or Unfreeze is not considered a transaction, in BTHB it is a transaction. Of course, a Trade is also a transaction. The first trade can be made on February 2nd as there is a 3-week mandatory holding period. If you don't use your monthly transaction, you lose it. You cannot bank transactions.

4) The Top-Pick will be 2x weighted. Your Top-Pick can only be Frozen or Unfrozen. It cannot be traded for another stock.

5) No Double Downs.

6) Any ETF will be allowed.

7) Each contestant must pick 10 stocks or ETFs. Nine will be single picks, and one will be a Top-Pick (2x) weighted.

** divided by 200

Len