I'm John Batchelor. I welcome my colleague Jim McTag, former Washington editor of Barron's Magazine,

now a novelist in Lancaster County, the best county in the Keystone State. The day after,

the day after, the day after, the markets pause for the weekend, and Jim's been moving around

in Lancaster County. Jim, a very good evening to you.

Thank you very much. The question is, are things normal in Lancaster County? You've been out to lunch

and to brunch? Are people saving their funds, burying their coffee cans of pennies? How are they

responding to the market drop after two days?

Good day to you. Good day, John. Life goes on as it always has here. It's as if there is no stock

market in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or no knowledge of one, it's as if Washington, D.C. is a million miles away, not just 125 miles away. I went to the Oregon Dairy today for a luncheon with my wife's relatives. It's a diner that specializes

in ice cream

and the place was

pretty packed

and the waiter told me

that since the beginning

of March

the crowds have been

returning

so in short the economy The crowds have been returning.

So in short, the economy in Lancaster has not noticed the things that have affrighted the stock market.

They don't know that the world is over and you didn't tell them.

Okay, let's talk about prices. What's a milkshake cost at this gathering spot? $6, which that's a bargain because

most places are charging over $10 now. So an ice cream cone is about five bucks.

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