Some Addenda to Past Posts

Checks: I wrote previously on the absurdity of writing out in longhand the dollar amount already specified in Arabic numerals on a check. Since then I have written all my checks with Roman numerals [CLII for $152 etc] on the so-called ‘legal line’. All of those checks have cleared with no problem, and not even my credit union has complained when I write checks to it for my credit card. So, forget that folderol of writing out your alpha-numbers on checks. Instead, just write “as above” and save yourself some time and effort.

Cereal ads: I forgot to mention in my diatribe against small print in TV ads that cereals often make exaggerated claims about lowering your cholesterol. You’ve got to eat two small portions a day of the cereal with a bit of fruit and reduced-fat milk and only one real meal, yet the fine print cautions that the results are available only with “a program of diet and exercise.” Big whoop!

As long as I’m on the subject of cereals, many ads mention that their cereal contains fruit. Of course, it’s dried fruit. Now there’s nothing better with your bowl of breakfast than slices of fresh banana or pieces of fresh peach. But I do like raisins and/or craisins in my cereal at times but won’t buy any breakfast food with the dried fruit already in it. The dry cereal leeches all the moisture from the dried fruit, destroying its softness and taste. Add your own raisins or dried apricots or whatever yourself. They’ll garnish the cereal much better than the dead raisins in a cereal box.