"Consumer packaged goods" is the technical term for everything you buy when you go to "the store" to "get some stuff." For years now, you, the consumer, have been buying less of this stuff. What gives?

If you have ever given twenty bucks to the Red Cross and subsequently been deluged by form letters from 136 other charities, you may have asked yourself, "What's the deal with all this junk mail?" Here is "the deal," as you so crudely put it: the junk mail industry is now far more technologically advanced than ever. Just give in.

There was a time when Wal-Mart thought it could compete with Target. Ha. What a mistake that was. It's not the faux-yuppie Target shoppers Wal-Mart wants now; it's the dollar store shoppers. Welcome to America the Poor.

Here's a new list of the highest-paid authors. Once again, it's all the crappy ones.

With the release of the appropriately monstro-schlocky Shrek Forever After on IMAX, movie tickets (in Manhattan, at least) are passing the "symbolically important" $20 price point. Yea, you know what else is symbolically important? Netflix. [WSJ]

"Where's the beef?" That will likely be exclaimed when you learn that our nation's fast food industry is facing a new crisis: beef is not so cheap these days. Not to worry! Fast food chains have many other "delicious" options.

Here, the original turnstile from the old New York Times cafeteria can be yours for only $1,350. For the same price you could hire Tom Friedman to speak for just over one minute. [Olde Good Things]

Goodbye, mystique: A totem collector is auctioning off a magic skull/ stash box that once belonged to Yale's planet-controlling secret society Skull "n" Bones. Plus, "a black book with names and photographs of earlier members." Nick Denton, bid now! [AP]

Because no one will pay money for a "newspaper" any more, newspaper companies are selling other crap, out of desperation. They all sell wine, for example. Now there is a new "Wall Street Journal Store." Let's peruse its fine offerings.