The Oil Drum

Hello AlanfromBigEasy,

Did you notice any partygoers shouting out Peakoil when their beverage of choice hit half-empty? I am constantly trying to promote this as a new cultural tradition.

Bob Shaw in Phx,Az Are Humans Smarter than Yeast?

That sounds like a GOOD idea. And not just chocolates, but anything tasty. Nutty, savory (salty) anything that's a little treat, will do well. And extra points if it's actually good for you like good chocolates are. You could grow nuts or get them locally and make them into sweets. It's a very good business plan.

Isaac Asimov's family ran a candy store when he was a kid, and this was in the Depression. It appeared to provide well for them, and provide the basic framework for Isaac and his siblings to get into colleges.

I know from personal experience, as Ebay sales were sinking then tanking, and as the US economy has gone down, I've consistantly been able to do OK at swapmeets with an "Everything's a dollar" method. I finally realized I was coming out better selling 10 of something for $1 each than selling those 10 things for $9.95 on ThiefBay and losing $3 in fees.

A dollar now is like the old-time nickel or dime, no one thinks about it.

I also used to know a swapmeeter who'd get nuts and bolts and fasteners and stuff, cheap or free, organize them in his house all week, then on the weekend hit the swaps. He'd drive up in his little pickup truck, and unfold a setup that took up something like 5 spaces, and have bins and bins and bins of odds and ends, 2 for $1 or $1 each or whatever, everything was cheap. I think his most expensive item would be $3. I'd come by and dump $100 or more on his first thing, picking up RF connectors and stuff. Guys could not stay away, he had tons of stuff, and it was all cheap. He said he did even better at the classic car shows. The guy worked out of his house, only had to go out and sell on the weekends, and made at the very least $1000 on a weekend. Often double that I'm sure. The guy's a genius.