If you didn’t already know that the current economy is blech, you could probably gather as much from the following two headlines that appeared yesterday:

1. Starbucks to Close 600 Stores
2. Family Dollar Posts Strong Earnings

It’s amazing what that $4.00, lo-fat, no-whip, peppermint mocha will get you at a dollar store.  Of course that peppermint mocha could also get the latte set about 12 miles down the road in their not-quite-as-cool-as-they-once-were Lexus LX.  Choices, choices: premium coffee, a gallon of gas or a pack of clothes hangers + a jar of generic peanut butter + a can of Comet + a bag of six water pistols?