Portfolio 101

[OnyxCougar]

It occurred to me a few weeks ago, and again today, that my company offers 401(k) and I participate in it, but I really have no earthly idea about what the hell I am doing. I know money comes out of my check, but I don't know how what I picked during enrollment affects me long term.

I came to realize that I know very little about how the stock market works, and how that all fits into my mutual funds, or even what a mutual fund is and how it differs from, say, a commodity.

The reason I'm asking here is (1) there are people with degrees in economics here (2) there are people without degrees in economics that know how this stuff works (3) some of the aforementioned people can explain how all this works without getting condescending about it (4) Knows a website already in place with this information.

SO. Any help would be appreciated. Assume that I don't know anything about the stock market, 401(k), or bonds/stocks/mutual funds or how they are used. Visuals preferred.