partying like it's 1929

I feel kind of strange when I think about the fact that we are living through events that will be studied by everyone from little children to prize-winning economists for decades to come.

When I checked my 401k's year-to-date performance yesterday, it was down 31%. I can only imagine how it looks today. It's a good thing that I'm young--there will be plenty of time to earn back all that I've lost.

When I was promoted to my current job last year, I became eligible to receive stock options for the first time in my life. I've been awarded a couple thousand in the last year--nothing too major--and all of them are underwater now. I was awarded more today. I haven't learned the price yet, but I imagine that it was set before the market started really tanking. It was nice to get the recognition, but I wonder if I'll ever be able to use them. Bummer.

It seems like things are only going to get worse, so I'm glad that I have a good, stable job and work for a company that is the best in the world at what it does. I feel safe.

I feel bad for the people I know (everyone I know there used to work in my company) at Circuit City's headquarters. Word on the street is that Circuit will file for bankruptcy in one to three weeks. It's both wonderful and strange to think that our old archenemy might finally be gone. Everyone likes winning, you know? On the other hand, people will lose their jobs. People have been losing their jobs there for a while. That's never a good thing.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average, year-to-date performance. Notice the steep decline at the far right. Amazing:




Welcome to 1929.