Another roll of the dice

These are troubled times in which we live—at least that is what the news commentators are trying to convince us. Yet I think I’ve found the solution—to the mortgage crisis, soaring energy costs, and the resulting budget crunch—an online site where you can legally print your own money. And if that is not enough, this same site offers visitors an informative business strategy guide to help you become more successful in your endeavors.

Some of the gems I’ve mined so far from this free guide:

“When paying off mortgages, pay them off in the reverse order in which you mortgaged them;

“You should build when you can do so and still be left with enough cash to pay a “high probability” expense;

“By knowing approximately how much money an opponent has, you can know how far he or she can bid in an auction, how much rent he or she can afford to pay, or how many buildings he or she can purchase without mortgaging;

“When trading developable properties, try to trade for properties of equal or greater value and those that lie closer to free parking;

“Trade to get low cost, steady income producing properties: namely, railroads or utilities;

And finally if things get really serious, “pay $50 and get out of jail early … You need to be in circulation.”

Now before you get too excited, I should tell you that the guide and the money is provided online by Hasbro for the Monopoly board game. And is perfectly legal!

Although I’m confident the economy can weather the rough patch we are in, I have to admit I get rather jittery when I hear news reports warning of the possibility of disruptions in the food supply, given increased fuel costs, the growing demands from the burgeoning middle class in China and India, and pressure put on farmers because of the growing popularity of biofuels.

Odd how that is working out—people are using corn, so to speak, to power their automobiles and the poor are on the verge of being unable to afford hamburger because the ranchers can’t get enough corn to fed their livestock. I guess that’s the cost of going green.

It makes me long for the day when all I had to be concerned with was not landing on Boardwalk.

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.Proverbs 13:18

Speaking of the Monopoly game, the sites representing Illinois, New York, and Boardwalk have higher chances of getting landed on than many of the other properties, with Illinois the highest probability, according to the game’s strategy guide.