we make a post and gather vests from each vote, those vests show up as money on our post. The calculation of that money is made by the total number of vests cast divided by the total number of new issuance for that particular time frame.

TC gave a good explanation of it, but this is really good too. You two should probably team up and write a book on something. It doesn't even matter what it's about, it would be good.

I have a much better understanding of how it works now. I also understand that the reason my post value changes so much is not just from the rise and fall of steem, but from the rise and fall of my percentage of the rewards pool. If more rewards are available, then my payout amount will be greater!

"If I could get one, just one day's worth of reward pool, I'd have enough water to fill the kiddie pool in my living room with enough left over to give treats to everyone I know."
-themanwithnotenoughrewardspool