I could not more dream of buying a "warm jacket" for myself or anyone else than I could going to the moon. Luckily I have a nice warm down parka from 25 years ago that I really love and I can keep sewing up the leaks. (My day-to-day coat is a Marshall's end-of-season special I got for $15 four years ago.) Even at TJ Maxx a sports team jacket is probably going to cost you $40. Where's THAT coming from?

Unfortunately one of the reasons food banks are struggling is  that donations are down because many of us don't have the luxury of having a bunch of spare cans of food knocking around our cabinets. Every can is precious to me these days because it might keep me going through a week when funds are short. With gas almost tripled in price since Bush took over, utlities and health-care costs skyrocketing and our property taxes through the roof, thanks in part to the domino effect of his tax cuts for the wealthy, there's no extra to go around.

I'd love to help everyone, but Dick Cheney has all the money. And he's never been known for his esceptional charity.