I was volunteering at the Nashville Zoo today, when a photographer and a reporter came by to report on the decorating of the Victorian house on the property. I learned that Gannett newspapers will lay off 10% of their staffs at each newspaper.
The reporter told me that her son will be going to Iraq on Tuesday; then Wednesday, she learns whether or not she has a job.
Because I’m unemployed or because it’s the Thanksgiving holidays, I’m watching more television than usual. This commercial reminds me of something Dave Chappelle would have produced on his historic comedy show:
Although I’ve got the USA Today from November 5 and the Newsweek from November 17, heralding Obama’s victory, stashed away in a drawer, I won’t be buying any limited edition, historic plates. I equate buying something such as this as investing in Beanie Babies or a six-pack of commemorative Coca-Cola bottles heralding a college football team’s national championship.
Have I ever fallen victim to a scam such as the Obama Commemorative Plate? Oh, yes, I purchased the commemorative Jimmy Carter Presidential Coin, after his election in 1976. What is it worth today? $10.99. A few years after I purchased it, I realized that it wasn’t worth much, so I gave it as a gift at a White Elephant Christmas Gift Exchange. I don’t think that Andy Miller, who got stuck with it, appreciated it very much.
And that six-pack of commemorative Coca-Cola celebrating the 1998 National Championship of the Tennessee Volunteers? After collecting dust for a few years (along with the coach of that team), it was discarded.
Since falling victim to buying those worthless commemorative gifts, I now invest only in mutual funds.
