Dear Mr. Berko: Over the past 20 years, I've probably experimented with call options a dozen or so times because I could control 100 shares of a $50 stock up to nine months for about $200. The only time I ever profited was when I bought the May $55 GalxoSmithKline options in March of 2000. Glaxo was trading at $51 and I paid $175 for a call that would let me buy Glaxo at $55. Glaxo went up to $65 a month later and I sold my May $55 option (I had three of them) for $1,125 each and made $950 per option, or $2,850 total on my three options. My experience in the options market has been lousy. But a friend told me that he's making 40 percent to 75 percent annually with option spreads using a broker who designed a sophisticated computer program. I had an appointment to speak with this man in Chicago and he was a real dork and geek. He never took his eyes from his computer and was an unpleasant person so I left. How come you never write about options? Is it possible to make 40 percent to 75 percent annually with "option spreads"? What are option spreads? Are they safer than buying regular options? Can you educate me about option spreads or can you give me the name of an experienced option expert that would be willing to educate me and give me advice