Hmmm... look at today's news release. I wish I could say I was connected somehow when I wrote this, but it was just good (bad?) timing. :-)

Not sure how thoroughly this has been discussed as I've not been hanging out on the board too much lately...

How do you all feel the implied environmental impact will play for or against NOT/FWR?

FWR is proving up a substantial chromite deposit and is looking towards open pit mining as their course of action, while NOT has a much smaller deposit and is leaning towards a shaft mine that can be shared for all deposits in the "complex".

Native and Environmental negotiations being what they are, does anyone think NOT's apparent advantage in eco-disruption would get them approvals any sooner? Does anyone think the open pit strategies of FWR/Cliffs could be turned down?

Looking for some input from those experienced in these areas. I'm halfway through reading "The Big Score" and things in the story are heating up with the locals, just wondering how these same issues will play out in the ROF.

"Strategic metal or not, historically this was meant with relation to good old bad Soviet Union. Now probably China is also included for that purpose. I don't think the US want any metal to be fully controlled by these two countries."

IMO, replace "the US" with "US companies" and you have a correct statement. It seems the North American governments have little interest in preserving anything domestic; foreign ownership and supply is the trend and likely will be for decades to come. Control/ownership of base metals probably won't be any different, it just seems to be an on-going game of Monopoly we're not interested in playing. Pretty soon every move we make will have us landing defenseless in front of a hotel laden property that we don't own.

+300k volume today, trading steady at 120+.

Nice little jump for an afternoon. Who knows something?

"I hope that everyone will join with me in wishing every one of our team a joyous and festive holiday season, some quality time with family, and such much deserved rest and relaxation."

I hope we should all find ourselves doing the same - "To the New Year Ahead!"

Happy Nickel to all, and to all a good night!

SS

Why would Pinetree tender to Cliffs on the 10th??? Why wouldn't they wait? I would think anyone tendering to NOT would do it yesterday, but Cliffs? Makes no sense to me...