And the number is: 3...9...9!

By: Ray Pellecchia

File Under: NYSE, NYSE

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No, that's not an insider advance look at tonight's lucky number. Been a bit busy today and couldn't get to this earlier, but know you're interested in every Hybrid Market twist and turn, so here's the latest: we added another stock to Phase I this a.m., bringing the total to 399.

Added today was First Trust Strategic High Income Fund II (symbol FHY), a closed-end fund that just listed today in connection with its IPO. Welcome aboard the flagship of capitalism, FHY.

For those keeping track, here's the updated list of activated Phase I stocks. And back by popular demand (well, one person called, and we're that customer-sensitive!), and contrary to my post yesterday, we are indeed posting this list on nyse.com/hybrid, in addition to blogging it. Happy to be over-ruled by a customer.

Last and indeed least, anybody out there curious about the number 399?

399 B.C. was the year when Socrates, faced with the prospect of a death sentence for "refusing to recognize the gods recognized by the state" and "corrupting the youth," decided to instead take his own life via hemlock. Had never heard the wisdom of his last recorded words until seeing them on this site: 'Crito, we owe a cock to Asclepius. Do pay it. Don't forget.'

US 399 was a short highway that went from Ventura to Pumpkin Center, just south of Bakersfield. No disrespect, but can you imagine, "Hi, I live in Pumpkin Center?"

399 feet is the length of the U.S. Coast Guard's Polar Class Icebreakers, "specifically designed for open-water icebreaking [with] reinforced hulls, special icebreaking bows, and a system that allows rapid shifting of ballast to increase the effectiveness of their icebreaking." This caught my eye because just finished two inspiring books about the famous Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, whose ship Endurance became caught and ultimately crushed in the Antarctic ice but who in an incredible tale of leadership and perseverence got all his men back to safety.

Two great quotes from Shackleton that I'll leave you with:

"Optimism is true moral courage."

"A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old goes to ground."