When I retired in 1999, “Rippin Goods” had been sold to Ralcorp. Ralcorp was a spin-off company from the old Ralston Purina of dog food fame (remember the checker board squares). When Ralcorp purchased Rippin Good, you could buy a share of their company for $16 per share. Yesterday Ralcorp agreed to be sold to Conagra for $90 per share. That means your investment would have grown to 5 times it’s 1999 value. That sure beats money in the bank earning .75%. No, I did not own any Ralcorp stock. Damn!
I don’t like to sound like “bah humbug” around Christmas but the start of “sales” on Thanksgiving Thursday, official Black Friday, Cyber Monday (which I understand is the biggest computer on-line purchasing day of the year) and “Giving Tuesday”, the commercialism is overwhelming. Giving Tuesday is an attempt by charities to tape into our giving mood.
I am in the process of putting snow tires on our cars. I figure by getting them on before a big snowfall, the weather gods will not be tempted to dump on my parade.
There are some birthdays on the horizon. One in Sheboygan. One in Madison.
Stay warm.
Love,
Dad