It explained that the value of a stock is based on what people think it is worth, so when it goes from $10 to $5, $5 hasn't dissappeared.
People aren't willing to pay $10 a share anymore. They think it is worth $5.
My problem with this analogy is this, if those shareholders who own most of those $10 shares sell high, then buy back the stock at $5,
they've created the perception of the stock both not being worth $10 a share, then being worth more than $5 a share.
The stock market isn't a car. Its perception of what that car is worth.
If you bought your Ford at $10,000, but now they sell it at $5,000, then you've lost $5,000 (if you try to sell it).
If it really was always worth $10,000, then its value will appreciate when it sells for what it is worth ($10,000).
The real question that needs to be asked is, why was it selling for $10,000, then for only $5,000.
Its the buyers. In the case of the stock market, the car is the same car...but it doesn't get devalued until people quit buying it.
With the stock market, the perception of what a stock is worth is created by the brokers, the news, and what has been going on with the stock.
If people are selling major shares of corporations for top dollar, the perception will be the stock isn't worth as much as what seemed to be.
I believe that is what happened to the stock market. I believe the perception of a failing economy has created one.

---

This is an except: Much of the talk this past week has been around Microsoft's drop in share price since they made public their acquisition offer for Yahoo. SAI has a nifty calculator and tonight Techcrunch Editor Mike Arrington calls the deal a "$80 billion Headache". TC notes that the share price of Microsoft has dropped from $32.60 per share on January 31 to $28.56, a ~13% drop. I agree with Mike that the Yahoo deal might be a factor in the decrease in stock price, but I am not sold that it's the only factor. I am certainly no stock guy (go read Howard Lindzon for that) and will never give stock advice, but I took a look at some other technology companies to see potentially what the market did as a whole during the same time (January 31st - February 8th). Also, check Ashkan's coverage of the deal, it's very thorough.

Company	Jan 31st Close	February 8th Close	$ Change	~ % Change
Baidu	$279.95	$233.91	-$46.04	-16%
Google	$564.30	$516.69	-$47.61	-8%
Apple	$135.56	$125.48	-$10.09	-8%
RIM	$93.88	$89.71	-$4.17	-5%
IAC	$25.94	$22.11	-$3.83	-12%
Nasdaq	2,389.86	2,304.85	-$85.01	-3.5%

What do you think? Is Microsoft stock down because of the Yahoo bid, general market conditions, a combination or neither?

You are not alone.
Last year, I lost a fortune in stocks, I lost a fortune of equity in my home, and I too have a bad loan on my house.
Eventually I may lose everything I have.
But I have hope, that by not being alone, things will turn around.
There's a good chance I'll have to start all over again.
If I do, this time, I'll do everything better than I did the last time.
I'm not sure what happened to the stock market and the housing market.
But I have faith.
Kids will get their higher education somehow, houses will be sold, and people will somehow be able to retire, even though most of us have lost our savings.

I think I've been around a lot now, and Vegas is the NY Times Square on steroids.
Coming in last night, and just driving down the strip, we must have passed at least 20,000 people, and we just drove a few blocks.
Some business have died, but most are BOOMING! Vegas has grown tremendously in the last 6 months.
I don't understand the stock market.
Why would stock prices in Las Vegas casinos fall. All the parking lots are full. Its more crowded than New York City.
THEY ARE MAKING A KILLING HERE! And its all for partying and having fun.
It seems to me, if a business is obviously turning hugh profits and are expanding, their stock prices shouldn't fall. It makes no sense to me, at all.
I heard Boyd Properties (whose stock fell from $40 to $4 a share) is buying the Station Casino's.
That would make it one of the 5 largest casino corporations in town.
And The Cannery East, that casino that's about 5 blocks away from our house, is BEAUTIFUL.
They did a great job on it.
We are now next to the "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign on Boulder Highway.

Good flight back, to Lost Wages, Jimmy?

Why won't your job be there after your vacation? Vacations are legal and acceptable in PA. Specially in Pittstown.

How does Sonny and the house look? Intact?

I am sure Jeff will hold down the fort at work while you're gone.

Let's IM some time. When you aren't "Mobile".....

It felt funny. It felt like it was the last time I'd see this stretch of road to the apartment.
All vacations are exciting.
All flights are boredom filled with anticipation.
I guess what I'm saying is, maybe I won't be back. Life has been full of surprises.
The way this life has been going the last 7 years, its all been a crap shoot.
I'm hoping this trip will be full of adventure and my return to Pittsburgh will be warmly welcomed.
But what I'd like to say the most of all is live each day of your life like it was your last.
Live like us! Live it, and love it.

It's been raining a lot, and the snow finally melted away. The trees look like they're ready for spring in a couple of weeks.
My new job location takes 30 to 40 minutes to get too, so I haven't been watching the news that much.
It seems like all my time has been revolving around work.
Its the same old thing. Get up at 6, get home at 5, then try to muster enough energy to enjoy the rest of the night.
Usually that involves having a harmless beer at a local bar (I like Blue Moon with an orange in it), or coming home, and watching a movie or playing Wii with Becky.
I guess, at this time of the year, life can't really be described as being depressing, it's more like just plain ol' boring. Its too cold to go out and play.
It takes 10 minutes to put on my t-shirt, shirt, sweater, overcoat, scarf and of coarse, the pants and stuff.
We went to New Jersey and New York.
Every place is starting to look the same to me. Unless there's something that is unusually beautiful, its just another sight. Houses strewn together, factories, shipyards, bridges, tall buildings, and lots of people. The Statue of Liberty and the ferry to and from there was, well, just not that exciting.
On the other hand, the taxi drivers in New York made the trip worthwhile for me.
Those guys are the best racers I have ever seen.
They come within inches of other cars, and don't even sweat it. Most of the roads don't bother with lines to mark the lanes.
Driving in New York is more like a free-for-all. I enjoyed driving there, but when we finally decided to take cabs, those guys made me feel like a beginner.
On the other plus sides of the week
I talked to Robert and Rod this week. Its nice to reaffirm we have friends out there.
Soon, we'll be headed back to Vegas for a short stay. I can't imagine what the economy has done to it.
Our friend Jeff is picking dropping us off at the airport and picking us up.
I keeping hearing about local layoffs in large proportions
Its funny though, I don't see much about it in the news. I really think the big things that are happening aren't being reported to the public.
Once again, I really feel lucky to be working at this time.
Its odd though, I'm working in a large building complex where maybe only 1 in 5 cubes are being used.
I guess most of the people at work think it is life as usual, but I can't help myself from seeing things in a different way.
Welp...that's my babble for a cold Saturday morning.
Love to all, and may happiness fill your days.

You know, I was thinking about that 19 year old that posed for the Statue of Liberty. What a sight!!! She's in a sheet, holding a torche, and a book, wearing sandles. Doesn't that make you wonder what was on her mind.