Miscellaneous Rip Off From The NYT

While your money continues to burn, the economy on life support, and the stock market brought us back to 1997 level, the rich and famous were spending a record of $264 million on the first day of Yves Saint Laurent's posthumous garage sale. All those artifacts from the past were selling at record breaking prices so far, with the exception of a Picasso. So the rich are still insanely rich and immune to this god awful economic downturn. Just don't expect to find a $49.99 polo shirt at the garage sale. I read somewhere long time ago that some guy admires Mr. Saint Laurent for his eponymous YSL polo shirt, I guess Mr. Saint Laurent would be flattered . . . or rolling in his grave should he learn that he was remembered for some polo shirt made by franchisees. One of the more interesting reportage from the hyperlinked article is that Mr. Saint Laurent's long time partner Mr. Berge, at 79, clearly spoke his mind when he refused to hand back two of the controversial artifacts to China acquired through legitimate purchases but were originally looted from China. When you are that independently well-off and at that age, I guess he can afford to speak his mind without fear, unlike Christie, the auction house that orchestrates the auction.