In This Edition...

• The Pickle's Now at 38, & Counting 
• Corn Ethanol: Good or Bad? 
• A Better, Faster, Stronger Way To Read Our Comments

The Pickle's Now at 38, & Counting

Score another one for Spicy Pickle (OTCBB: SPKL). They've now got 38 restaurants up and running, with the newest one being Austin's (Texas) third. The franchisee is slated to open five in the area, and two if the three already open near Austin are his. 

As for what it means, it's the same message we've been sending with all twelve new units they've added since September when we first started covering them - growth. The company is expanding, plain and simple. The state of the economy hasn't been a factor on that front. 

The stock held its ground as well following April's revival. Though it's been moving only sideways since then, the 20 day moving average line has started to play a support role. Conversely, the 50 day moving average line doesn't seem to be playing as strong of a resistance role. Those aren't super-meaningful forces yet, but it all helps. 

The next 'big' level we see is $1.19, where the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level lies. That's 33 cents above the current price of 86 cents.
 

Corn Ethanol: Good or Bad?

We actually put these comments in the blog yesterday, but the topic was important enough for us to reinsert here in the newsletter. In a nutshell, we want to get your wheels spinning on the oft-debated topic of corn ethanol. 

See, we've been following 'clean energy' trends for nearly a year. Broadly speaking, we're in support of it (though who isn't?) At the same time, we're under no illusion that solving one energy problem won't create another one. Take the debate over corn ethanol for instance. The technology works, but at what cost?

We fully intend to maintain our neutrality on all political or social matters. On the other hand, the truth is the truth ...which just so happens to be the basis of our neutrality. Given the nature of the topic, we feel a fruitful discussion can be developed on the matter of corn ethanol, provided all of the participants (that's you) are genuine about sharing and receiving information and opinions.

Though we intend to examine corn ethanol issues in perpetuity, for today we just want to get the ball rolling by publishing these factoids. We believe all are accurate.

• The United States' use of ethanol meets only 3.5% of the total need for combustible auto fuel, but it requires the use of 20% of our corn. 
• Recent Federal legislation calls for ethanol usage to increase dramatically between now and 2022. The law, however, unduly favors the use of corn ethanol (which would be subsidized), and disfavors sugar-based ethanol...by heavily taxing it. So what? The United States produces mostly corn ethanol. Sugar-based ethanol is largely Brazilian. Again, so what? Sugar ethanol happens to be much more efficient when comparing the energy it produces to the amount of energy needed to convert sugar into biofuel in the first place. So, what's the real priority? 
• Ethanol/gasoline 'blends' of 10% (meaning 10% of the gasoline is actually ethanol biofuel) cut greenhouse gas emissions anywhere from 18% to 29%. 

As investors, the comparison we need to make is the upside and downside of each side ....perhaps acknowledging that this is a bigger deal than mere money. On the other hand, if there's a fiscal opportunity built in, there's no point in overlooking it.

We'll continue to post pros and cons surrounding ethanol. We may even eventually come to a firm conclusion about what ultimately makes the most sense. 

In the meantime, do you have something to add regarding the corn ethanol discussion? You can leave a message at the bottom of this ethanol blog entry, where this commentary first appeared. 
 

Better, Faster, Stronger (Well, Better & Faster Anyway)

Care to know the fastest and most reliable way to receive the information you've been reading in the Micro Cap Press newsletter? It's probably not the means most of you are using. 

No, the partial irony of the situation hasn't escaped us. If you're reading this at all, you're probably doing so via e-mail, or because you found us (and hopefully bookmarked us) on the world wide web. Thus, the need for an alternative delivery method is somewhat negated.

If you're looking for the best way though, we suggest you establish an RSS feed for yourself. 

Not familiar with RSS? Trust us - it's nowhere near as complicated as it may sound. It's an acronym for 'really simple syndication'. What it means to you, in plain English, is the ability to customize what you see and read on the Internet. If you can use e-mail or surf the web (which you clearly can), you have the know-how to use RSS feeds. 

And it's not just our commentary. You can funnel the commentary from all of your favorite web sites into one page. It makes things much easier for you. 

There are two basic ways to start using RSS feeds. You can use a free stand-alone aggregator, like Feedreader, or the ones now offered with most Microsoft Outlook packages. The alternative? Many user-centric websites like Yahoo or Google now offer the free feature to their members. 

The nearby image is a screenshot of the Micro Cap Press RSS feed, as displayed by Yahoo on a 'My Yahoo' page. (Note that we create two RSS feeds...one for the blog, and another for the newsletter.) 

And what's the upside? There are two; both are big. 

First, this is much faster than e-mail. The RSS feeds are updated in real time. 

Second, this gets you and us away from your e-mail inboxes, which have become increasingly difficult for everyone to use. Even with spam filters you're probably still getting more junk than you want. The tough part is, those same filters may be filtering out the good stuff you want as well...like our newsletter. Since you pick which RSS feeds you want to see, you don't see anything you don't want to. 

To add our RSS feeds to your reader, click the little orange link at the top of our right hand column, accessible from any page of our website. 
 

	We Value Your Feedback!

Got comments, questions or suggestions? Send 'em on over! We appreciate the time and effort that goes into sending us email. We will review each email as promptly and acutely as possible, and reply via email when appropriate. Just click on the mail icon below. 

Micro Cap Press Editor

	Subscribe

The Micro Cap Press is a complimentary e-newsletter and website devoted entirely to identifying the world's best small and micro cap stock trading ideas. We aim to uncover these ideas and provide in depth research coverage in an effort to help our readers generate above average returns. There is no cost associated with your email subscription. Add your email address below and make sure to check your email inbox and confirm your opt-in request to start receiving the Micro Cap Press Newsletter on a regular basis.

To ensure newsletter delivery, you can add any additional email addresses you may have to the Micro Cap Press Member List. Receiving the Micro Cap Press Newsletter in multiple locations is the best way of making sure you don't miss an edition! Ensure delivery by reading our article on white listing by clicking here: http://www.microcappress.com/whitelist/

Note: Your email address will be kept strictly confidential. If you no longer wish to receive the Micro Cap Press Newsletter, simply follow the instructions located at the bottom of every Micro Cap Press Newsletter Edition. We honor all removal requests.

	Refer A Friend

If you find the Small Cap Network Newsletter informative and profitable, please forward our newsletter alert service to like-minded friends and associates who share similar market interests.
 

	Ensure Newsletter Delivery

To ensure newsletter delivery, you can add any additional email addresses you may have to the Micro Cap Press Member List. Receiving the Micro Cap Press Newsletter in multiple locations is the best way of making sure you don't miss the next investing or trading opportunity! For web based email addresses, the Micro Cap Press recommends @yahoo.com or @aol.com for timely and reliable email newsletter delivery.

Click Here or go to http://www.microcappress.com/disclosure/ to view our compensation on every company we have ever covered, or visit the following web address: http://www.microcappress.com/disclosure/reports_disclosure.php

The Managing Member of Pacific Shores Investments, LLC purchased 200,000 shares of Spicy Pickle at $.25 per share. This purchase was made in a Spicy Pickle private offering back in November of 2006. The Managing Member of Pacific Shores Investments, LLC has also purchased 50,000 shares of Spicy Pickle in the open market with an average cost basis of $.55 per share. Additionally, Pacific Shores Investments, LLC has been paid a fee of $30,000 cash and 250,000 shares of newly issued restricted stock by Spicy Pickle Franchising, Inc. for coverage of the Company.

From time to time PSI sells shares received as compensation for coverage of client companies. Shares received are sold in the open market. Since the shares are received as compensation for services as previously disclosed, and not for investment purposes, PSI does not view the sale of the shares as contradictory to any opinions delivered in the content. This should be viewed as a conflict of interest by shareholders or prospective shareholders of the client companies. 

PSI, its Members and Members' families, are forbidden by company policy to own, buy, sell or otherwise trade stock for their own benefit in the companies who appear in the publication unless specifically disclosed. 

All statements and expressions are the sole opinions of PSI and are subject to change without notice. A report, description, or other mention of a company within MCP is neither an offer nor solicitation to buy or sell any securities mentioned. While we believe all sources of information to be factual and reliable, in no way do we represent or guarantee the accuracy thereof, nor the statements made herein. 

The reports, critiques, and other editorial content of MCP may contain statements that appear foward relating to the expected capabilities of the companies mentioned herein. 

THE READER SHOULD VERIFY ALL CLAIMS AND DO THEIR OWN DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE INVESTING IN ANY SECURITIES MENTIONED. INVESTING IN SECURITIES IS SPECULATIVE AND CARRIES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. THE INFORMATION FOUND IN THIS PROFILE IS PROTECTED BY THE COPYRIGHT LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND MAY NOT BE COPIED, OR REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT THE EXPRESSED, WRITTEN CONSENT OF PSI. 

We encourage our readers to invest carefully and read the investor information available at the web sites of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") at http://www.sec.gov and/or the National Association of Securities Dealers ("NASD") at http://www.nasd.com. We also strongly recommend that you read the SEC advisory to investors concerning Internet Stock Fraud, which can be found at http://www.sec.gov/consumer/cyberfr.htm. Readers can review all public filings by companies at the SEC's EDGAR page. The NASD has published information on how to invest carefully at its web site.