Public Function GetMaxMargin() As Double
        Dim value As String
        For Each myRow As DataRow In myDataSet.Tables("EnvironmentVariableTbl").Rows
            If myRow("Name").Trim() = "MaxMargins" Then
                value = myRow("Value")
                Return Double.Parse(value)
            End If
        Next
        MessageBox.Show("Holy BatMouse! Could not find 'MaxMargins'. Returned 0.")
        Return 0
    End Function

    Public Function GetStartDate() As Date
        Dim value As String
        For Each myRow As DataRow In myDataSet.Tables("EnvironmentVariableTbl").Rows
            If myRow("Name").Trim() = "StartDate" Then
                value = myRow("Value")
                Return Date.Parse(value)
            End If
        Next
        MessageBox.Show("Holy BatScreen! Could not find 'StartDate'. Returned 1/1/1.")
        Return "1/1/1"
    End Function

  Public Function GetAsk(symbol As String, targetDate As Date) As Double
        symbol = symbol.Trim()
        If (targetDate.DayOfWeek = DayOfWeek.Saturday) Then
            targetDate = targetDate.AddDays(-1)
        End If
        If (targetDate.DayOfWeek = DayOfWeek.Sunday) Then
            targetDate = targetDate.AddDays(-2)
        End If

        DownloadPricesForOneDay(targetDate)

        If IsAStock(symbol) Then
            For Each myRow As DataRow In myDataSet.Tables("StockMarketOneDayTbl").Rows
                If myRow("Ticker").trim() = symbol Then
                    Return myRow("Ask")
                End If
            Next
        Else ' is an option
            For Each myRow As DataRow In myDataSet.Tables("OptionMarketOneDayTbl").Rows
                If myRow("Symbol").trim() = symbol Then
                    Return myRow("Ask")
                End If
            Next
        End If
        MessageBox.Show("Holy Batsandals! Could not find the ask for " + symbol + ". Returned 0.")
        Return 0
    End Function