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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August 16, 2008
Volume 6, Number 16
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

 

It’s the middle of August, but in Carpenter Country vacations are over and it’s time to pay the bills. Wow, the short one’s only been gone for two weeks and there’s a mountain of them.

A glance through the pile shows the insurance company’s been busy raising rates. Ditto the electric company. And of course, going up, up, up are those ugly credit card bills listing ever-higher gasoline charges.

A quick look at the bank statement confirms available funds will cover this month’s debt. But what if prices keep rising? According to the media, all’s not well in America’s backyard, so it could be a long haul until there’s any good news.

Better write a few checks before poverty sets in.

Hold it, the short one thinks. No need to panic. But definitely time to regroup and dust off those great money saving tips from yesteryear.

A rose-colored idea that translates into more than chicken feed and peanuts is pushing the a/c thermostat to a higher number. Another is shopping closer to home. Less driving means fewer fill-ups, fewer oil changes, fewer new tires - plus the car will last longer.

Or for an even bigger bang the short one could start walking to the grocery store. Exercise might morph into getting thinner, which could warp into vim, vigor and big piles of greenbacks.

Oh happy day, with all the cash she’s saving, making it to the next pay check will be a breeze.

And she’ll be healthier when she gets there.

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TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

Counterfeit Goods
by
HL Carpenter

 

These days, fakes are everywhere. Designer clothes, watches, perfume, cosmetics, CDs, DVDs, computer software, medical equipment and supplies, and pharmaceutical drugs are all susceptible to being counterfeited. Product fakes are a booming business, as you may have realized from the news reports about the lawsuit Tiffany’s filed against eBay.

Read the entire article here

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TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

 

Tip: If you fill your prescriptions on the Internet, the US Food and Drug Administration recommends looking for websites that display a Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) hyperlink seal. The seal of approval is granted by the national Association of Boards of Pharmacy to licensed pharmacies that sell FDA-approved medications on-line. You can find a list of pharmacies on the VIPPS web site.

Glossary Term: Board of Pharmacy. A governmental regulatory body that regulates pharmaceutical practices, including granting and disciplining licenses of individuals and companies. Each state has a Board of Pharmacy, which ensures that pharmacists and pharmacies meet minimum requirements for safe practice. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy is an association whose members are the Boards of Pharmacy. The association assists Boards in developing, implementing, and enforcing uniform standards in order to protect public health.

Financial Horoscope: The Corn Moon is full tonight, but it’s not corny for you to stop worrying yourself sick over your finances. Restore your cash flow to health by picking up free financial tips and techniques at the Federal Reserve Education web site, the America Saves campaign, the US Financial Literacy and Education Commission, or back issues of Top Drawer Ink.

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TOP DRAWER SATIRE

Allied Bombs
by
HL Carpenter

 

What happens when your biggest competitor declares war and you’re absent without leave? The answer may put Allied War Industries and its affiliates under the gun.

Read the rest here