TOP DRAWER INK NEWSLETTER

 

Here's the latest issue of Top Drawer Ink, the newsletter written by author HL Carpenter that's chock full of humor and common sense information.

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June 7, 2008
Volume 6, Number 11
ISSN 1554-6330

In this issue:

1. Carpenter Country
2. Top Drawer Article
3. Top Drawer Tips
4. Top Drawer Satire

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CARPENTER COUNTRY
What's Happening in Our Neck of the Human Experience

 

As we all know, our government’s been touting the stimulus package. On top of that car dealers have been shouting about rebates. So, last week Carpenter Country’s short one bit the bullet and bought a car.

“Do you want new or used?” the salesman asked. To which he received this definitive reply, “New! It definitely has to be new!”

When he gave her an odd look, she told him about her first car - a secondhand Oldsmobile loaded with strange quirks.

In the months she owned the black antique, the windshield wiper blades flew off their arms during a torrential downpour. The gas filter bowl broke, spilling high octane fuel all over the engine block. The shock absorbers reacted to any bump in the road by bouncing backseat occupants off the unpadded headliner. And on several occasions when the gears were downshifted at a red light, the horn blew ... all by itself.

But the scariest incident occurred a few hours before a good friend’s wedding.

On the way home from church after the final rehearsal, as the Olds rolled off the interstate onto the downhill exit ramp, the brakes started smoking. By the time the runaway vehicle shot across traffic, skidded around a corner and coasted to a stop in front of the bride-to-be’s home, the rear wheels were on fire.

As the short one stood curbside watching the Weirdmobile burn, she thought: Either I’m jinxed or this well used buggy is haunted by former owners. Whichever, I get the message.

Since then, when it comes to cars - only new will do.

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TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

A Brief History of the Federal Reserve System
by
HL Carpenter

 

Because of extensive media coverage of changing interest rates and fiscal policy, you probably know the Federal Reserve System (‘the Fed’) is tasked with controlling and regulating the US money supply.

But did you know that before America’s central bank was created there was little monetary regulation?

Read the entire article here

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TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

 

Tip: To better understand the Federal Reserve System and the role the central bank plays in US monetary policy, request a free series of comic books about economics from the Federal Reserve’s Public Information Catalog. The short, soft cover books are written for students and present economic information in an easy to read style.

Glossary Term: Monetary Policy. The strategy followed by a government to increase or reduce the supply of money in an attempt to control inflation or other economic events. In the US, the Federal Reserve System tries to influence the money supply by raising or lowering interest rates.

Financial Horoscope: The national economy trundles along without much input from you. Fortunately, you have plenty of control over your personal money supply. So go bold and tackle that budget you’ve been putting off. While your cash flow may be smaller than the government’s, you have a much more compelling stake in sticking to a responsible financial plan.

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TOP DRAWER SATIRE

A Rock and A Hard Place
by
HL Carpenter

 

The US State Department issued a new warning today to US citizens who intend to travel between A Rock and A Hard Place.

Read the rest here