[cherry]

I can only understand things from my personal life experiences......

if we are all paying MORE of our money on gasoline, that leaves LESS for food,entertainment, clothing, cars, etc......

people can't really cut off the food, but surely the entertainment,retail and auto industries have got to be feeling the pinch from slow sales....so why aren't they discounting greatly?...no one is buying their stuff and they have to unload it....so why haven't THOSE prices at least come down....

in a real good and normal recession, one can usually make up for losses by picking up "deals"...so where are the deals?

[familyop]

"in a real good and normal recession, one can usually make up for losses by picking up "deals"...so where are the deals?"

Go starchy? Rice can go a long way for little cash.

There are no good deals, BTW. The importers and merchants are playing chicken with our economy to try to keep the dollar propped up (for their fat margins from foreign slave labor).

Non-sticky, low-cost Rice:

1. Fill about quarter of a cooking pot with rice (the basic kind that comes in 25 lb. bags)

2. Fry with margarine, oil, or whatever until browned. Add other ingredients to taste (celery salt, worcestershire sauce, or the like). The frying will give it a tiny bit of a nutty taste (or something like that).

3. Add water, until the water is about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch deeper than the rice (depth depending on your elevation above sea level—about the length of a clean thumbnail being the rule of thumb).

4. Bring to a light boil, turn the heat down as low as you can get it then cover with a lid.

5. Leave covered and cooking on lowest heat for about 20 - 40 minutes (length of time depending on elevation. Experiment!).

Check it. Add water and simmer longer if necessary. You’ll get the hang of it. If it’s fat, soft and non-sticky, it’s done.

Try it with veggies and your favorite sauce (soy...whatever) and little or no meat. Or,...

Try it topped with pinto beans (and *small* amounts of spices like chili powder, cumin, jalapeno peppers, black pepper, red pepper, cajun spice—whatever), and a little cheese sauce on top of the beans.

Add home sliced, egg-battered and fried onion rings, hush puppies,...

[mamelukesabre]

They say that during the great depression when everyone was broke and starving, somehow or another booze was flying off the shelves and they couldn’t make enough of it at any price...of course it was illegal, so that kinda dampened the production of it a little. But still, somebody always finds a way to get rich, no matter how bad it gets.

You got me where the deals are this time around. Maybe it will be realesate by the end of the year.

[xc1427]

Normally, it takes six to nine months for the deals to come in. Now, as far as the auto industry, new model season comes earlier each year...wait until this summer...that’s when the bargains will really be noticed.