Reviving the virtue of not wasting paper clips and other things to look forward to

Jason Zweig, one of the best financial journos out there, went to town on conspicuous consumption today. Seriously, until you don't have enough money to take public transportation, do not try to bellyache about your stock-market losses around Jason.

His piece, entitled "What a Bear Market Might Teach Us," is part of a burgeoning discourse in certain hopeful corners that we're on the cusp of The New Thrift. I'm not so sure that's going to happen overnight—isn't this the Christmas we're all supposed to go out and buy a Detroit-built car to save the American economy? But maybe it's a doable concept for the medium-term. Consider my corner hopeful.

Barbara!