Replies to post #50 on Pick 3 Contest 3

[SSKILLZ1]

Technically it was 47 (It was 49 with both sheeps) versus the 38 we had this contest and (40 with both sheeps). But still a significant decline. Whether it is the market was very difficult, too many people were just busy, I saw a much of people around that normally play, that were making posts, that didn't play. I have no idea. It certainly can't be that they were unaware my job of making everyone aware of several pm, and blasting accross a ton of boards was there. If I had to guess the markets had alot to do with it, I mean the 2000 index is down roughly 10% in the last 7 trading days, I realize that date back to the end of the last year, and december wasn't fun in microcap land with heavy tax loss selling in a ton of issues.

I also think we have lost some of the commodity people. If you remember there was a time the junior miners and energy boards were far more active, the bloodshed in those sectors, has probably been and issue as well. Other then that I could give plenty of reasons, but I will see how we do next contest if that number jumps back into the 40's then it could be just a statistical anomaly, granted we will never return to the PSL prime I mean there was a time we used to get 80-85 contestants. But those days are up for a variety of reasons, which I could write a book on from going private, to the 2008 collapse, to the attrition story, and the lack of acquiring new people. But I don't want to write it to be honest. The first two contests were in the upper 40's, we need to see if this upper 30's attendance was a one off before we can draw any conclusions, not that I want it too be, but If it drops too far I just will stop with the contest I need at least 25-30 people to justify the work, otherwise all the pm's I do, all the effort I put in it simply not worth it at a certain point to pm almost 200 people and say 10% actually participate. Am I disappointed with the attendence? Absolutely, but I won't draw any conclusion until we see the 4th contest, because the only way to know this is a trend is more data. But I'm sure market condition haven't helped to answer your question. Hope this helps.

[Trent Blair]

Probably general market conditions and the fact it started right after new years. Personally I'm not in and the reason is many of my favorite stocks had less than $7,500 in volume. Most are very small stocks <50 million marketcap.