Phil Cook wrote:
> And lo on Fri, 04 Jan 2008 14:07:31 -0000, Invisible <voi### [at] devnull> did 
> spake, saying:
> 
>> "Six-point tactical initiative
> 
> Okay no really just stop right there

;-)

> "Okay folks listen up. We're going to take the tactical 
> initiative by continuing to enhance our shareholder's wealth. Now I know 
> that's been the policy of this company since it's inception and is the 
> policy of every other company on the globe, but that just goes to prove 
> how damn important it is. Now are you with me?"

I especially like how I get this same email every 7 days, and it's 
written in 24-point Impact in bright orange at the top of the email.

[I like even more the fact that it *was* a 4-point initiative, and every 
few months it gets a few points longer.]

[[Even better still, many of the "points" are actually multiple points.]]

[[[OMG, nested recursion!]]]

>> Besides, last time I checked, there is no way to control a company's 
>> share price. Sure, 
>> theoretically you can improve the company's performance. But you 
>> cannot do anything to the share price...
> 
> "Company X speculates on take-over of Company Y"
> "Company X says new equipment will lead to a four-fold increase in 
> productivity"
> 
> What you think all those puff-pieces on the news/media sections of 
> company websites were just for show?

Indeed. It's a game of poker. You try to make everybody *think* you've 
got a royal flush in your hand, and hope they increase your share price. 
If you're good at bluffing, they believe you. If you're not, they don't. 
And, if you're unlucky, maybe you really *do* have a royal flush, they 
don't believe you anyway, and your share price *still* sucks...

>> [E.g., if Micro$oft were suddenly facing financial ruin, their share 
>> price would still be astronomically high, becuase it's "impossible" 
>> for them to fail.]
> 
> Unless any of the major stock-holders started divesting themselves of 
> large amounts of stock in a hurry.

I meant that the general public "believe" that Micro$oft cannot possibly 
fail. Obviously *all* companies *can*, in fact, fail. It's just that not 
all people seem to comprehend this simple fact.

-- 
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*

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