Monica Kochelee

I was reading an article on Businessweek’s website that was talking about how a lot of the big “snob” companies like Sak’s Fifth avenue is opening more outlet stores, in the hopes that they will attract more customers to the outlet store’s lower prices.  The article confused me a little bit because I had read many years ago that “outlet stores” were not necessarily a “discount store” and that when people shop at outlet stores looking for a “bargain” they usually are not really getting a “bargain.”  What they are often getting are closeouts, over-runs, or factory seconds.

After I had learned that “outlet stores” were really not “discount” stores I pretty much avoided them.  So now I’m wondering if “outlet” stores are changing their strategy and really ARE offering bargains now!

I was shocked to receive a phone call last night that the hubby of a very dear friend passed away unexpectedly in his sleep two days ago.  He was only fifty three years old, and he left behind a wife and several daughters; one being only the tender age of twelve years of age.  This man had no life insurance or death benefits of any kind and was the family breadwinner.  Chances are that the family will lose their house in a few months because they do not have the resources to hold on to that. 

This is a very sad situation and I would like to strongly encourage anyone out there that is reading this that they should buy enough life insurance to at least pay off their house should they die.

I was reading on the Businessweek website that there is a maple syrup shortage from Canada that is effecting the price of food.  I did not realize that Canada makes 80% of the world’s maple syrup!  Many consumers have been switching to maple syrup as a sweetener in their baking products so the demand for maple syrup has been increasing.  Canada had a mild spring this year, which lowered their maple syrup production.  New England, however, had a banner year and had lots of maple syrup.

As I was reading this story I found myself wondering why it took so long for this story about Canada having a mild spring (effecting the maple syrup supply) to enter the news media - their spring was six months ago for crying out loud!

And I was surprised to learn that so much syrup came from Canada because when I buy maple syrup at the store it always says it was from a New England state!

Over the past thirty years, the government has made huge efforts to de-regulate everything that they could possibly de-regulate.  They de-regulated the airline industry, transportation, and the telephone company.  They thought that by doing this it would increase growth and be good for business.

Well, I have not seen any positive results from deregulating anything, and I think it is time for the government to reconsider it’s stance on regulation and deregulation.  The consumers need more protection from the evil people who sell us tainted foods, and need more protection from price-gouging.  Time to start reining in the big corporations that make obscene profits at our expense!

With Hurricane Ike bearing down on the Gulf Coast, the price of gas is going up again.  It seems lately that any and everything seems to be an excuse to raise the price of gas!  I understand that there is concern that the refineries might be damaged and that will cause an oil/gas shortage.  I sure wish that “we” (and by “we” I mean this country) would aggressively pursue finding other sources of energy so we could end our dependency on fossil fuels forever!  I think that what the American consumer is going through over gasoline prices is simply highway robbery!