The financial crisis hits where it hurts: COOKIES?!?!

The owners cited rising prices for ingredients and fuel for the this week's demise of MOTHER'S COOKIES.
The OAKLAND, CALIF., baking firm has been making cookies for 92 years, and if you grew up in the BAY AREA and ever ate a cookie, chances are good you enjoyed a Mother's Cookie.
The CIRCUS ANIMAL was my favorite Mother's product. These frosted animal cracker-style cookies came in two colors, pink or white, and apparently came in a variety of animal shapes as well. I say "apparently," because approximately 80 percent of the cookies actually appeared to be shapeless blobs -- not the elephants, camels or rhinos pictured on the packaging.
Workers were told not to come in this week, the company's factories were shuttered and its owner is seeking bankruptcy protection.
Hopefully, Mother's Cookies and the iconic Circus Animals will reemerge after a period away.
I would hate to lose those cookies to this financial mess.