Name:   MartiniMan - Subject:   I know...I'm just tweaking you Date:   3/9/2016 9:04:30 AM

Archie, it is a dumb analogy.  A better one would be I have $140,000 and it drops in value to $60,000 and then rises to $140,000 and then drops to $80,000 and then up to $100,000 and then down to $50,000 and then up to $140,000.  The trendline is flat.  Over the period in question there has been no increase in the value over the time period in question.  There is no significant increase or decrease.  Just like our climate over the last 18 years. The average is really not helpful in determining trends in data other than it provides an average.  You can also do statistical analyses, probablistic analyses and other types of analyses if you want.  Thanks for proving my point.