Re: Random Thoughts About Thoughts Random
Posted: Tue May 09, 2023 12:29 pm
I didn't know it was that close, but Jay-Z was olllddd in rap terms when Reasonable Doubt came out. Like 5+ years older than the usual college-aged debut.
It's the sixth version of The Swamp. What could possibly go wrong?
http://sportsfrog.net/phpbb/
Especially when it comes to Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Those countries all joined the Axis. Hungary and Romania participated in the German invasion of the USSR. So it's not surprising that the USSR treated them as conquered nations.L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 8:11 pm I’m not saying I justify the spread of communism in Eastern Europe after World War II. But considering they were on the winning side and had the largest losses on either side during it (22 million is the generally agreed number), I can see why they felt entitled to the spoils.
Maybe your bookie is going to take your thumbs by the end of the day and you don't have time to find a collector willing to pay the value some expert said it's worth?EnochRoot wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:10 am So I’m doing some work this AM and I have ‘Pawn Stars’ on in the background. Somebody brought in some Basquiat artwork. Original works he had done when he was homeless, he would paint on the backs of postcards so that he could make $ quick. The head guy at the shop (Rick, I guess?) brings in some art experts to analyze it to see if this is the real deal. The art expert brings in a guy who actually knew Basquiat when he was homeless on the streets of NYC, and he goes into detail how these are absolutely the real deal. The art expert goes on to say that these (3 postcards) would sell for $50k apiece.
The expert and his asset leave the building, and then the guy who brought the Basquiat works of art in begins to negotiate with Rick.
So how much do you want for these?…
He asked $38k apiece, and then backed down to $30k apiece, but Rick wouldn’t budge off of $50k for the whole lot.
My random thought: if an actual art expert had the pieces confirmed to be worth $50k apiece, why the hell would you be unloading them for a third of that at a pawn shop in Las Vegas? I get this is all scripted nonsense, but that really distracted me from my work.
“WALK AWAY…”
Yeah, I get that it’s Vegas and that implies seedy-AF, and maybe that’s why Rick is a (p)rick all the time, cuz these are hapless souls who absolutely need to part with these goods because Vinnie Bambino is waiting outside to crack their rib cages?The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:24 amMaybe your bookie is going to take your thumbs by the end of the day and you don't have time to find a collector willing to pay the value some expert said it's worth?EnochRoot wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:10 am So I’m doing some work this AM and I have ‘Pawn Stars’ on in the background. Somebody brought in some Basquiat artwork. Original works he had done when he was homeless, he would paint on the backs of postcards so that he could make $ quick. The head guy at the shop (Rick, I guess?) brings in some art experts to analyze it to see if this is the real deal. The art expert brings in a guy who actually knew Basquiat when he was homeless on the streets of NYC, and he goes into detail how these are absolutely the real deal. The art expert goes on to say that these (3 postcards) would sell for $50k apiece.
The expert and his asset leave the building, and then the guy who brought the Basquiat works of art in begins to negotiate with Rick.
So how much do you want for these?…
He asked $38k apiece, and then backed down to $30k apiece, but Rick wouldn’t budge off of $50k for the whole lot.
My random thought: if an actual art expert had the pieces confirmed to be worth $50k apiece, why the hell would you be unloading them for a third of that at a pawn shop in Las Vegas? I get this is all scripted nonsense, but that really distracted me from my work.
“WALK AWAY…”
I assume pawn shops are in the business of exploiting people's desperation. The entire business is buying stuff from desperate people for way under value and selling it at value or at least for profit. And just because you have artwork valued at $150,000 doesn't mean you can find someone willing to pay that much for it.EnochRoot wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:29 amYeah, I get that it’s Vegas and that implies seedy-AF, and maybe that’s why Rick is a (p)rick all the time, cuz these are hapless souls who absolutely need to part with these goods because Vinnie Bambino is waiting outside to crack their rib cages?The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:24 amMaybe your bookie is going to take your thumbs by the end of the day and you don't have time to find a collector willing to pay the value some expert said it's worth?EnochRoot wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:10 am So I’m doing some work this AM and I have ‘Pawn Stars’ on in the background. Somebody brought in some Basquiat artwork. Original works he had done when he was homeless, he would paint on the backs of postcards so that he could make $ quick. The head guy at the shop (Rick, I guess?) brings in some art experts to analyze it to see if this is the real deal. The art expert brings in a guy who actually knew Basquiat when he was homeless on the streets of NYC, and he goes into detail how these are absolutely the real deal. The art expert goes on to say that these (3 postcards) would sell for $50k apiece.
The expert and his asset leave the building, and then the guy who brought the Basquiat works of art in begins to negotiate with Rick.
So how much do you want for these?…
He asked $38k apiece, and then backed down to $30k apiece, but Rick wouldn’t budge off of $50k for the whole lot.
My random thought: if an actual art expert had the pieces confirmed to be worth $50k apiece, why the hell would you be unloading them for a third of that at a pawn shop in Las Vegas? I get this is all scripted nonsense, but that really distracted me from my work.
“WALK AWAY…”
Honestly if he sold them through Sotheby's or whatever I don't think he'd make much more. He'd have to find a buyer who's willing to take them with the only guarantee of authenticity being a segment of a reality tv show.The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:33 amI assume pawn shops are in the business of exploiting people's desperation. The entire business is buying stuff from desperate people for way under value and selling it at value or at least for profit. And just because you have artwork valued at $150,000 doesn't mean you can find someone willing to pay that much for it.EnochRoot wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:29 amYeah, I get that it’s Vegas and that implies seedy-AF, and maybe that’s why Rick is a (p)rick all the time, cuz these are hapless souls who absolutely need to part with these goods because Vinnie Bambino is waiting outside to crack their rib cages?The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:24 amMaybe your bookie is going to take your thumbs by the end of the day and you don't have time to find a collector willing to pay the value some expert said it's worth?EnochRoot wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 9:10 am So I’m doing some work this AM and I have ‘Pawn Stars’ on in the background. Somebody brought in some Basquiat artwork. Original works he had done when he was homeless, he would paint on the backs of postcards so that he could make $ quick. The head guy at the shop (Rick, I guess?) brings in some art experts to analyze it to see if this is the real deal. The art expert brings in a guy who actually knew Basquiat when he was homeless on the streets of NYC, and he goes into detail how these are absolutely the real deal. The art expert goes on to say that these (3 postcards) would sell for $50k apiece.
The expert and his asset leave the building, and then the guy who brought the Basquiat works of art in begins to negotiate with Rick.
So how much do you want for these?…
He asked $38k apiece, and then backed down to $30k apiece, but Rick wouldn’t budge off of $50k for the whole lot.
My random thought: if an actual art expert had the pieces confirmed to be worth $50k apiece, why the hell would you be unloading them for a third of that at a pawn shop in Las Vegas? I get this is all scripted nonsense, but that really distracted me from my work.
“WALK AWAY…”
It actually inspired me a little. Not sure my wife would approve the use of weed, and you can only pay cash or debit card. We only have a joint bank account and very rarely take out cash anymore. Had a bag I'd drop pocket change into back when I used cash, so I periodically roll some coins and return them for cash. When that runs out, I'll need to find a new source of cash.
Side topic, but something that has been utterly shocking to me after my move to France:Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:25 pmEspecially when it comes to Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Those countries all joined the Axis. Hungary and Romania participated in the German invasion of the USSR. So it's not surprising that the USSR treated them as conquered nations.L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 8:11 pm I’m not saying I justify the spread of communism in Eastern Europe after World War II. But considering they were on the winning side and had the largest losses on either side during it (22 million is the generally agreed number), I can see why they felt entitled to the spoils.
It was not until a few months ago that I learned that the USSR's invasion of Poland in 1939 (after its non-aggression pact with Germany) simply retook land that was supposed to be part of the USSR after WWI but Poland took it from the USSR in a war Poland started in 1919 by invading Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus. At one point, Poland controlled a lot of the territory of Lithuania and Belarus.
Which, like you said, doesn't justify anything, but it provides some perspective.
I think "how is Syb laundering his own money" should become a running thing here. I'm trying to think how I'd get a couple hundred in cash if I needed the reason to be secretive and I'm coming up blank.The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 2:42 pmIt actually inspired me a little. Not sure my wife would approve the use of weed, and you can only pay cash or debit card. We only have a joint bank account and very rarely take out cash anymore. Had a bag I'd drop pocket change into back when I used cash, so I periodically roll some coins and return them for cash. When that runs out, I'll need to find a new source of cash.
I have a couple of degenerate methods I could rely on but would never get to that level. My daughter has a stupid amount of cash on hand from dog sitting. Probably $700. We also have an envelope with emergency cash that I'm sure my wife forgot about. When we moved, my father-in-law gave us an envelope from my wife's now deceased great aunt with $2,000 in cash as a housewarming gift. She hand wrote a letter and told my FiL to give it to us after she dies and we have some reason to celebrate. She died about 10 years prior to delivering the letter. Kind of a cool idea... We kept a few hundred in case of a power outage where we couldn't get access to a bank or if credit cards weren't working. I probably have $300 more in coins, so that'll last me a couple years.mister d wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 3:01 pmI think "how is Syb laundering his own money" should become a running thing here. I'm trying to think how I'd get a couple hundred in cash if I needed the reason to be secretive and I'm coming up blank.The Sybian wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 2:42 pmIt actually inspired me a little. Not sure my wife would approve the use of weed, and you can only pay cash or debit card. We only have a joint bank account and very rarely take out cash anymore. Had a bag I'd drop pocket change into back when I used cash, so I periodically roll some coins and return them for cash. When that runs out, I'll need to find a new source of cash.
To conclude this: right. My guess is if the person holding three Basquiat works of art who got them valued at $50k apiece at a freakin pawn shop, he’d leave and obtain certificates of authentication from an art appraiser so that he can sell them to somebody who just wants to hang them on a wall in their house.
These were literally postcards. No canvas to worry about. Put 'em in a padded briefcase chained to your wrist and you're golden.
That is pretty remarkable.Square Rob wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 2:58 pmSide topic, but something that has been utterly shocking to me after my move to France:Steve of phpBB wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 10:25 pmEspecially when it comes to Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Those countries all joined the Axis. Hungary and Romania participated in the German invasion of the USSR. So it's not surprising that the USSR treated them as conquered nations.L-Jam3 wrote: ↑Tue May 09, 2023 8:11 pm I’m not saying I justify the spread of communism in Eastern Europe after World War II. But considering they were on the winning side and had the largest losses on either side during it (22 million is the generally agreed number), I can see why they felt entitled to the spoils.
It was not until a few months ago that I learned that the USSR's invasion of Poland in 1939 (after its non-aggression pact with Germany) simply retook land that was supposed to be part of the USSR after WWI but Poland took it from the USSR in a war Poland started in 1919 by invading Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus. At one point, Poland controlled a lot of the territory of Lithuania and Belarus.
Which, like you said, doesn't justify anything, but it provides some perspective.
People that were children here during wwII are typically 6”+ shorter than people born after the war. It makes perfect sense, but holy shit is it apparent. I see so many old people that are 5’ max it’s shocking. Noticeably different from the US.
Well played!govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 4:24 pmMr. Enoch Root, please, I have never enjoyed the touch of steel to my skin.
+1 Ocean's 11.govmentchedda wrote: ↑Wed May 10, 2023 4:24 pmMr. Enoch Root, please, I have never enjoyed the touch of steel to my skin.
If it's about tipping I got confused at Hood to Coast and was going to leave no tip (we were splitting the bill), then noticed tommyboy staying behind to put cash on the table.
Kinda? Two couples, two half orders at our favorite fried chicken place. Should be pretty simple, right? I took a thigh/wing and wife took a breast when the food got there. The other couple took both legs...ok, that's annoying, but I least I get two thighs then! Nope, he takes the thigh too so I'm down to either a breast (which I don't eat) or a wing. Guy takes the breast, OK cool. Then two seconds before I take the wing, he takes it and immediately chomps into it. So basically, homie gets a half-chicken to himself (his wife only had the leg), while the rest of us split a half.
Was that at the Cheerful Tortoise? RIP, sniff
No, it was just after I landed and we met somewhere downtown. It was Bob, his mom I think, and Tommyboy. We had yet to experience the Delightful Porpoise.P.D.X. wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 3:32 pmWas that at the Cheerful Tortoise? RIP, sniff
Da fuq?Giff wrote: ↑Fri May 12, 2023 3:19 pmKinda? Two couples, two half orders at our favorite fried chicken place. Should be pretty simple, right? I took a thigh/wing and wife took a breast when the food got there. The other couple took both legs...ok, that's annoying, but I least I get two thighs then! Nope, he takes the thigh too so I'm down to either a breast (which I don't eat) or a wing. Guy takes the breast, OK cool. Then two seconds before I take the wing, he takes it and immediately chomps into it. So basically, homie gets a half-chicken to himself (his wife only had the leg), while the rest of us split a half.
It's really not about the chicken, per se. But not even a "hey are y'all finished" before he takes the rest.