UNCOMMON CENTS 52

CONSIDER THIS AT THE DAWN OF THE NEW YEAR, 2007. "THE MILKMAN ALONE IS ENOUGH TO REDEEM THE NIGHT FROM ITS UNDESERVED EVIL REPUTATION. A CARTLOAD OF PASTEURIZED MILK FOR NURSLINGS AT FOUR O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING REPRESENTS MORE SERVICE TO CIVILIZATION THAN A CART FULL OF BULLION ON ITS WAY FROM SUBTREASURY TO THE VAULTS OF A NATIONAL BANK FIVE HOURS LATER." SPOKEN AT THE START OF THE LAST CENTURY, THIS THOUGHT NOW CONTRADICTS WHAT'S IMPORTANT AT THE START OF THE 21ST CENTURY. AMERICA AND THE DEVELOPED WORLD HAVE TURNED AROUND. THE GENUINE EVILS LURK EACH NIGHT IN THE THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES, SUPPRESSED BY DICTATORSHIPS, IN WHICH MILK AND BREAD TOO FREQUENTLY DO NOT FIND THEIR WAY TO THOSE CITIZENS IN NEED OF THEM. IN AMERICA AND ALL ADVANCED COUNTRIES, CHILDREN DO NOT CRY FOR SUSTENANCE. WE ARE SPOILED. AMERICANS ARE SPOILED NOT ONLY BY BUCKETS, TUBS, QUARTS, PINTS, DISHES, CONES, BARS, CUPS, CAKES AND SANDWICHES FILLED WITH ICE CREAM BUT ALSO BY VAULTS FILLED WITH BULLION. WEALTH MEANS THAT ICE CREAM CHOICES NOW RANGE FROM TURN OF THE CENTURY PLAIN VANILLA, STRAWBERRY AND CHOCOLATE TO LIMITLESS CHOICES SUCH AS ROCKY ROAD, MOOSE TRACKS, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, CHEESECAKE, SPUMONI, PISTACHIO, BUBBLE GUM, BUTTERSCOTCH, PEPPERMINT, ROCKY ROAD, GREEN TEA, BUTTER PECAN, LICORICE, EGG NOG, PEACH, RASPBERRY SWIRL, CAPPUCCINO, COOKIE DOUGH, CHOCOLATE FUDGE, MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP, TOFFEE, REESE'S PIECES, SNICKERS, CHERRY GARCIA, ETC.

THE LESSON FOR THE NEW YEAR, HOWEVER, IS TO BULK UP ON BULLION BY SAVING MONEY NOT ON CREAMY (OR LITE ) ICE CREAM. SAVING MONEY IS AS IMPORTANT AS EVER. FOR EXAMPLE, $4.00 FOR A QUART OF BEN AND JERRY'S COULD BUY A GALLON OF THE GENERIC CONFECTION. YOURS BUYING POWER IS 4 TIMES GREATER. A SIMPLE BLIND TASTE TEST OFTEN PROVES THAT THE UNBRANDED PRODUCT EQUALS AND OFTEN SURPASSES THE EXPENSIVE BRAND WHICH OFFERS STATUS OR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS BUT NOT SUPERIOR CREAMINESS OR TASTE. A GOURMET TREAT MIGHT SUFFICE ON A RARE OCCASION, BUT CAN IT BE JUSTIFIED AS REGULAR FARE? THE DOLLARS SAVED COULD BE DOLLARS INVESTED. CASH IN RESERVE, LIKE BULLION IN A VAULT, REPRESENTS A CACHET, A STERLING MARK ON YOUR CHARACTER.

HINT: YOU ALL SHOULD SCREAM FOR INVESTING AS WELL AS ICE CREAM.