Lew Hodgett wrote:
There are 5 for $10 T-Shirt stores all over SoCal announced with
blazing signs across their building facades, "5 for $10".

Haven't been in one for a couple of years and my supply of T-Shirts is
beginning to get a little low, so made a stop today.

Welcome to the real world.

There are still 5 for $10 T-Shirts; however, the shirts I like, 100%
cotton, solid color, shirts W/O a pocket.

My shirts are now 3 for $11.

Oh well, 3 for $11 still doesn't require a tie.

I'm still ahead of the game.

The cotton futures market has gone nuts. Cotton is now priced at $1.90/lb.
The last time it was this high ($1.89/lb) was during the Recent
Unplesantness when cotton from the Confederacy was interrupted by northern
aggressors.

Synthetics, too, have had their prices increase 50% in the past year.