In July 2008, the Dow closed at 11,215. In October, it checked in at 9,325. The week prior to Thanksgiving, in a cruel irony, it slid to 7,997.28 – the first dip below the 8,000 mark since 2003. The financial crisis that began in August 2008 has stripped an alarming percentage of valuation from former blue-chippers. Shares of Concur, Corning, Berkshire Hathaway, Dell, and Apple have all tumbled, in some cases between 50% and 60%. The market's performance calls to ...