Rick2you2

Oh how times change...

Nice fire extinguisher, too. 😁

I have tried it recently, and I ended up spending about 10-20% over expected market. But, the final price was not that high, and prices have been up lately for the artist, so I might test it again.

Just wondering if it makes sense to put in a bid close to market early on in order to effectively keep out tracking bids. Why not kill potential competition in the cradle that way? Or, is it just going to create a higher pricing level?

Actually, I don’t think The Great Gatsby will keep pace in 50 years. By then, books won’t be too popular, as compared to ebooks, and neither will collectible books, either. AF 15 will be one of those things where the market price is high, but they just don’t find ready buyers. Napoleon is a different story.

In 50 years, the dollar is going to have a real value which is much less than today. Since 1970, as I recall, inflation has been around 250%. So, the more pertinent question is whether they will beat both inflation and the opportunity cost of investing the money elsewhere.

There is a difference between lifetime renting and renting at a different stage in life. Ownership is also a function of biological nest building, not just raw value. I happily rent these days, but when I was married, with young children, it was different. I don't want the work that comes with home ownership or subject myself to increases in maintenance charges and special assessments in a condo. On the economic end, so many people and businesses have gotten into the real estate game, that unless you are redeveloping a property, it isn’t likely a house will still be a “good” investment that beats a more liquid investment (besides Scotch).

I’m beginning to think we should try and move this thread to a chat board on The Economist.

That one, is the problem. At a much higher price point, lots of things may come out of the woodwork but be out of reach. I would rather have them stay in the woodwork and approach privately, or just wait. There is always another good piece around the corner, so if they stay buried, at least no new buyer will buy them to bury in their own black hole for another 20 years.

My predicament.

Doesn’t look bland to me. Strong main images, good facial structures, well-proportioned figures, poses seem superheroic-natural, I don’t recall lousy backgrounds,...maybe you just don’t like the style. He isn’t Basil Wolverton, but he isn’t drawing in a medium for that.

I was thinking the same thing. Luckily, I am still within the return period.

I am going to revoke my recommendation of the bag Gene recommended, at least for now. I just went to look at it this morning, and one of the clips which holds a shoulder strap together was broken. It was slipping a little at the show; now I know why. I am going to contact the manufacturer about getting a replacement, but if they won't provide one, I can't see getting a bag which lasted less than 2 months, and one major use. :

a/k/a Cavewoman

Not necessarily. I see toys from their childhood, like Tamagachi's (which still work), old Gameboys and Cabbage Patch Dolls, as well as cartoon cells from shows like Rocco's Modern Life. Some Beanie Babies, even (if prices are finally down to earth). But, it may be another 20 years out before many of them get the income for it.

Car sales are likely to go down, but not stay down, IMO. First, the cars (incl. trucks) which were built in the 80's-90's and even 2000's to a lesser extent, are simply not that well built. When was the last time you saw a 5 year old car with surface rust, or even a 10 year old car? Remember the GM X bodied cars and horrid Chrysler K cars of the 1980's? Unsurprisingly, there are a lot of older cars (10-12 years old) on the road than there used to be. On the other hand, the Wall St. Journal reported that young people are now beginning to look again at moving to the suburbs due to the high cost of City living. That will eventually drive up the need for cars (say 10-20 years). It won't take them long to realize that renting, or leasing, is a more expensive option than buying. But, you will see a turn away by the younger generation from high end luxury cars as a waste of money. They view cars as a way to get around; not something to wrap their ego's into. So, the manufacturers now have their premium brands selling to average income buyers. I still remember seeing some cleaning ladies loading their vaccum cleaners into a 3 Series BMW. Compared to income, they have really come down.

Including panties.

These youngsters really don't seem too interested in ownership of things, so much as having experiences. But frankly, when I was much younger, neither did I (except maybe a liberated pair of panties).

I was more of a Warner Bros. fan growing up. Bugs. Let me add, however, that my eldest son was a big fan of Rocco’s Modern Life when he was growing up. A while ago, I offered to buy him the cover of a comic of the show which came up for auction. He had zero interest in it; his response being I was the one who liked comics, not him. So the basic point remains: popularity on TV or in movies may not translate to a healthy future for OA.

Nah, you just probably want more expensive and better stuff.

Just out of curiosity, is he still sanitized and dull, or did they give him some character besides Everyman?

No, but I do appear to be wrong. My kids are grown and were never enamored with Mickey. I mostly remember him from Fantasia and some fairly tame cartoons.

Make that two comments. Someone who buys art wanted to know where I got it. They liked the shoulder straps, in particular.

I used to love the salad bars at his chains. Then they were bought out by Arby's and they sunk into mediocrity.

Actually, Mickey Mouse is not particularly relevant as a functional character. He is mostly relevant as a brand name/trademark for Disney. How many times in the last 20 years has someone said: I gotta see that Mickey Mouse cartoon? People just don’t care much for “Steamboat Willie” anymore. Similarly, who still reads Horatio Alger stories even if we know the name?