I’ve been following a few key stocks for months now, tracking their progress and gains/losses. Along with that I witness some very heated discussions on speculation about company progress and motives. The conclusion I have come to is that you are better off ignoring anyone else on a general stock discussion forum has to say.

To help prove my point here are some quotes I have gathered from my travels across Google Finance.

If it looks like poop and it smells like poop…it’s probably a piece of poop!

[This company] will be trading at around $10.00 a share by the end of the month.

This stock isn’t bad. I bought in at $2.78 and have seen nothing but positive results since then. Just wait or you could miss the next wave.

In fact, I’m not even sure it’ll take that long…i’m predicting by october/november we’ll see some major improvements…

I would seriously sell [this] right now. It’s high enough to make a small profit. I don’t think it can compete with XX and XYX.

Such hard facts and predictions! These people must be able to see the future, or they are kindly market analysts who spend their free time giving advice away on google finance. The truth is, everyone is just looking for someone who agrees with the risk they took. If they can convince you to join their risk, it will feel more comfortable for them.

I am not a market analyst nor a stock broker and I try not to pretend to be one on the internet. My advice is do your own research. Let the others think what (ridiculous thoughts) they want. I only suggest trolling the stock forums if you want a laugh.

Earlier this week I came across this article on The Street about how luxury hotels are now offering luxury accommodations for pets as well. Now I am a dog owner (my lab, Riley, pictured above), and I admit that I indulge him with a treat or rawhide from time to time. But spending $20.00 for a dinner of “Succulent Casserole of Boneless Lamb Shank with Steamed Carrots and English Peas” for a dog seems excessive to say the least. I don’t even eat that well.

That is just the tip of the diamond encrusted dog bowl though. At the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, they offer a special service called “The Hound of Music” in which your pooch is given a limo ride to a recording studio, a voice coach, and a take-home CD recording of your dog howling along to its favorite songs. What dog/owner doesn’t need that?! My favorite part is exactly how much this service will cost you: “Contact the Hotel Concierge to check availability. Rates start at $1,599.“!

For people interested in this service I have a special deal of my own, send me just $100 and I will email you a 10 minute mp3 of Riley howling along with whatever background song you desire.

Honestly, if you are considering something really extravagant for Ol’ Poochy, consider donating money to your local humane society in his name. The admiring looks he will receive from the other dogs will be reward enough.

Last week I heard about a new option in wedding extravagance. For a measly $2.2 Million, you and your spouse-to-be can travel 62.1 miles above the earths surface to exchange vows. Although, you had better make it a short ceremony, because even at that price you will only be weightless for 5-10 minutes.

The $2.2 Million package includes:

• Space Training
• Live broadcast to the ground
• Wedding photos and recordings
• Space Wedding Dress
• One hour flight into the atmosphere
• Envious glares from other incredibly wealthy friends who didn’t think of it first.

Rocket Plane Kistler Japan, the company developing this idea, plans on starting space-ceremonies by the year 2011. Perhaps by then people will see how unnecessary and excessive this is. I’m sure there will always be some gullible takers though.

If you had an extra $2 Million laying around, would you get hitched in space? What else could you do in space that would be worth that much of a personal investment?