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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October 8, 2011
Volume 9, Number 19
ISSN 1554-6330

In this issue:

1. Carpenter Country Essay

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

Before Carpenter Country, I happily lived through years of Archie comic books, penny candy and ice cream on a stick.

Yes, WWII was raging, but it was still a great time to be a kid.

Home was a three room apartment in a two story building that covered an entire city block. Nationalities included Irish, English, Swedish, Italian, Polish and German.

Every Saturday and Sunday kids sampled each other's religions - Jewish, Catholic, Protestant - what did it matter as long as we could all hang out together?

And there were lots of us. Sometimes the whole block echoed with the sound of our voices.

"Hey, do you want to play hide and seek?"

"Who's got a jump rope?"

"How about a baseball game?"

"I have chalk, let's play Potsie!"

Most mothers were home and very busy instructing us in logic, fear and foresight.

"Eat everything on your plate, someone in Europe is starving."

"Make sure you put on clean underwear, you might get hit by a car."

"Quit yelling, the neighbors will think I'm beating you."

Each afternoon around 4 o'clock the sound of an ice cream truck's bell could be heard tinkling its way down the street. At that moment all games came to a halt. Dozens of kids turned, looked up at their apartment windows and chorused, "Mom, the Good Humor Man is coming!"

Curtains parted, screens popped open and coins dropped down into our outstretched hands. Soon, we'd all be sitting on the curb licking melting treats and trying to figure out what game to play next.

What a life -

Anyone for Ringalevio!

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TOP DRAWER ARTICLE

Facts About Paper Money

by
HL Carpenter

Money, and whether to spend or save it, has always been a weighty subject, both literally and figuratively. Here's proof: 454 US currency notes - in any denomination - make a pound.

Click here to read the rest of this article

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TOP DRAWER TIPS
Topics and Tidbits

Tip: According to the US Federal Reserve, there was approximately $1.04 trillion of US currency in circulation as of October 5, 2011, of which $1 trillion was in Federal Reserve notes. For more facts about US money, including updates on the release of the new $100 bill, visit the dot-gov NewMoney web site.

Glossary Term: Money Supply. The total amount of money available in the economy to buy goods and services. The number generally consists of two parts known as M1 and M2, and includes coins and bills in circulation, as well as amounts held in banks and other depository institutions. Per the Federal Reserve, the August 2011 US money supply was approximately $9,545 billion.

Financial Horoscope: How's your money supply holding out? Whether you're saving or spending, there's no profit in dwelling on negative economic conditions. Focus on the riches you have, monetary or otherwise.

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TOP DRAWER SATIRE

Lifting America's Spirits

by
HL Carpenter

Are you up to a challenge? The Lack of Leadership Coalition, a non-profit sporting promoter, is sponsoring an endurance event. The task: Lifting America's spirits.

Click here to read the rest of this satire