Frederick said this on one of the Ted Cruz’ threads:
Getting the Washington Generals a new coach or better draft pick or getting them to play zone instead of man-to-man is not going to improve their season.
You know, there came a point when Americans decided that getting more Whigs and fewer Tories into Parliament was not going to cut it, and they came up with a new system. And not twenty years later there came a point where tweaking the composition of the Continental Congress was not going to cut it and they came up with a new system.
That first sentence is a clever analogy and I think we saw that yesterday. There is always a lot of bluster at congressional hearings, but rarely any tangible results. Looks a lot like “professional” wrestling. Even if it isn’t choreographed it is generally ineffectual. Or, if the goal is rather to enrich Congressmen and Lobbyists, it is extremely effectual.
The video claims that about 650 Stradivarius violins still remain. I found this incredible since I knew Stradivari also made other stringed instruments. If he was also making violas and cellos, how many violins could he have made in his lifetime? It’s hard for objects to survive four centuries, even coveted objects.
In just 60 years about 20% of the Shelby Cobras ever made have been lost. And those are big, one ton objects that cost about $46,000 in today’s dollars and were coveted at the outset.
The 960 instruments were violins, and the rest were violas, cellos, guitars, and harps. Unfortunately, out of that number, only about 650 are in existence right now, and only over 200 violins were accounted for. All his instruments were labeled, “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno (date),” which is why all his work are popularly called Stradivarius or Strad.
I once owned a Strad … or at least a viola labeled “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno (date)” on the inside.
Of course it turned out to be one of the many fakes, but I had minutes of fun as a sixth-grader imagining I had struck the jackpot with the used viola my stepfather had bought me.
As a once-proud Strad owner, a few years ago I took a look through the web on the latest in things Strad and discovered:
___________________________________
A modern instrument was the clear winner and a Stradivarius the loser in a double-blind test of old Italian and new violins, conducted at the Auditorium Coeur de Ville in Vincennes, Paris. In a follow-up to the controversial experiment conducted in Indianapolis in 2010, ten professional soloists compared the tonal qualities of twelve instruments – six by 18th-century Italian luthiers and six by contemporary makers. The results, published on 7 April in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confirmed those of the 2010 study, which showed a general preference for new violins and that players were unable to reliably distinguish new violins from old.
Rufus, yeah that’s my take on the GOP in general….all talk no action. Even when Trump was in office and they had both houses…all talk, no action. Friends of mine can’t believe I’m not a registered GOP, but an independent and I tell them why. If there was a new 3rd party, I’d join, but there’s too much money tied up in the current two party system.
I have a Stradivarius. A true authentic Bach Stradivarius Trumpet. They still make them like they used to.
The label in my fiddle says it’s a genuine Stradivarius, and if it turns out wrong, I guess I’m out my $25.
physicsguy,
You may be interested in what Andrew Yang hopes to do with his Forward Party.
Also, what Dave Smith is doing with the Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party.
Also, Eric Weinstein’s Unity Party.
I really believe Yang and Smith will get a lot of traction in the months leading up to November, 2024.
We are taking part in a vast medical experiment, the consequences of which we do not know…
In a widely mocked New York Times column, Thomas Friedman suggests Liz Cheney as a potential running mate for Biden in 2024. I think this is a great idea. I would like to see the never-Trumper Republicans and the Biden Democrats join forces so all my political foes would be on the same team.
If you think the 2020 presidential election was free and fair, vote Biden/Cheney.
If you think the events of January 6th were an insurrection, vote Biden/Cheney.
If you want a federal takeover of all future presidential elections, vote Biden/Cheney.
I think we are overdue for some kind of political realignment and a Biden/Cheney ticket would be a good place to start.
Have you seen the documentary Strad Style? Watch it, no spoilers, it’s really suspenseful (in addition to the usual documentary virtues, informative, revealing etc.).
About the Strads vs Modern violins. Our perceptions on what we like have changed over the years. Kind of like CA wines vs French wines. CA wines are “softer” whereas French have more of a “harder” taste. I went from CA to Aust and NZ to South American and then to French. I prefer French.
Registering with a political party depends on your state and if it has a open or closed primary system. In Oklahoma, if you are a R – you can only vote in the R primary. The Ds let the Independents vote in their primary.
In many cases, who wins in the primary is very important, and in some cases, the primary also acts as the general election if there is no opponent for the other side.
I usually pay attention to the local and state elections, but in the last cycle, I really checked out the school board elections. Many times, the local & state people move up to the federal level so it is important to get lots of good people running your state.
physics guy – congrats on the Dawgs.
Oh yes, open thread, here’s something: last Saturday’s guys’-night movie was a (basically worthless) Korean crime-action flick called Nowhere to Hide. Way too much of the cliche’d stylized-brutal-violence-set-to-pretty-music (see previous parenthesis). The opening scene was an elaborate assassination of a businessman (whom we never learn anything about) just to steal his briefcase full of money. The only reason I mention it is the music: “Holiday” by the BeeGees. I’m not even their second-biggest fan but it was the highlight of the show.
The AP has now decided that ‘cases, cases, cases’ are no longer worthy of emphasizing.
@Gregory Harper 2:39 pm: “In a widely mocked New York Times column, Thomas Friedman suggests Liz Cheney as a potential running mate for Biden in 2024. I think this is a great idea. “
She’s a Cheney, so that will never happen and she wouldn’t get Democrat votes if she did.
BUT: I was struck with another inspired ‘never happen’ thought experiment a few weeks ago: What if Donald Trump picked Tusli Gabbard as his running mate and she accepted? I know this is another ‘never happen’ deal for someone like Gabbard, and I don’t particularly like her politics, but…. I think they would clean up. I also think they might make a pretty good political team. What if they ran as Independents?
Tom Friedman being a vapid moron. It’s reassuring to see that there is at least one constant amidst the constant flux of trouble and strife.
liz,
Yang has a lot of interesting stuff to say about that and how he aims to eliminate biases with his Forward party movement.
Ranked-Choice Voting & Nonpartisan or Open Primaries
Democracy works best when we increase voter representation through inclusive electoral policies and practices. Party primaries disenfranchise the majority of voters. In 80 percent of cases the general election is essentially a foreordained conclusion. Non-major-party candidates are regarded as a “waste” of a vote and can never compete. Candidates spend millions trashing their lone opponent, making us all more cynical. Ranked-choice voting (and similar methods) better captures voters’ true preferences and enables a more dynamic and truly representative democracy while addressing all of these problems. It is the key to unlocking real reform.
@Rufus: Wikipedia says: “A Stradivarius is one of the … string instruments built by members of the Italian family Stradivari, particularly Antonio Stradivari (…Antonius Stradivarius), during the 17th and 18th centuries.”
Big family 2 centuries. 650? no problem. Indeed, I would guess than the total number produced was at least an order of magnitude greater (10,000). They couldn’t have kept the doors open and the family feed if it were not that many.
Further: They didn’t work by themselves. They had workshops. The shops had all kinds of apprentices, journeymen, servants, and laborers. The master probably made very few instruments by himself after his apprenticeship ended. He spent his efforts supervising the grunts, inspecting their work, maintaining the process, dealing with customers and visiting firemen. He put his chop on everything that went out the door and no doubt stood by his product 100%.
Every Strad in the world has 30-400 years of history behind it. It has been played, damaged, repaired, stored, und so weiter, and has developed qualities that no new thing can possibly have.
Second: One of the hardest tasks in the world is to make identical things. The ability to make objects that have interchangeable parts is a triumph of modern manufacturing technology.
I made hamburgers for dinner. I bought about 1.5 lbs of ground beef at the store. I made it into four patties of equal size (I am nuts enough to have used a scale to measure them out). I froze two and cooked two for dinner. The same meat, the same size, the same shape, and cooked in the same pan at the same time. But they came out different. One bigger than the other, one more done than the other.
Chaos theory explains it. The output of many systems, like my pan, is sensitively affected by minute differences in conditions.
Not only that, but many musicians are buying carbon fiber instruments. “a carbon fiber violin produces a rich, warm, and distinguished sound that rivals even the time-honored Stradivarius.” https://bestmusictool.com/carbon-fiber-violin/
Not only do they produce excellent sound, but they don’t swell, warp, rot, or break easily.
I found some articles on the Strad on clickbait pages for lost technologies. Which got me interested in Damascus Steel:
___________________________
It was during the Crusades that rumors of intricately patterned swords carried by Middle Eastern warriors started to spread throughout Europe. It was the 11th century, and they were seemingly impossible to break, nick, or wear. They were Damascus steel, and no one’s sure just how they were made.
@Huxley: Yes. Damascus is understood and can be duplicated, not that you would want to. We have lots other steels and other metals for different uses.
Further to my 10:39 pm above.
So, why do Stradavarius instruments command million dollar prices?
Sociology, not music. Two illustrations:
First: Watches. Until the mid 1980s, if you wanted to know what the time was to a tolerable accuracy, you needed to spend lots of money on a watch. A watch that most people could afford was not very accurate. Then along came quartz watches and for less than $100, you could buy a watch that was much more accurate than the most expensive Rolex.
Did that put the Swiss watchmakers out of business? No Way. Mechanical watches are a thing with young men today. And they can easily cost as much as a new car. https://www.hodinkee.com/
Even worse. handbags.
If you need to carry stuff around, you could go to target and buy a bag for a few dollars. Even a top of the line luggage manufacturer like Briggs And Riley will sell you:
“Large Shopping Tote: Amazing space. This large shopping tote’s exterior is crafted from ballistic nylon, providing the ultimate in durability. Comfortable and luxurious leather shoulder straps make this one easy carry-on. Backed by our Simple as That® Lifetime Guarantee for $219.00.” https://www.briggs-riley.com/products/baseline-large-shopping-tote-255
But, if you want to spend money, well there is this:
“Thirteen one-of-a-kind Hermes handbags valued at a total of nearly $1 million were stolen from Only Authentics boutique on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach during a grab-and-smash incident.
* * *
“Hermes handbags come in a variety of styles and lines made up of one-of-a-kind pieces. The Kelly and the Birkin are the most expensive handbags in the line. …
“Eight Birkins and five Kellys were stolen, with the most expensive being a 40-centimeter green crocodile skin Kelly listed at $89,000 and a 32-centimeter Vert Bosphore Birkin listed at $110,000, according to a store employee.
“Most Birkins on the store’s website range in price from about $17,000 to about $90,000, with a couple priced at $480,000. The Kellys start at about $5,000 for a wallet and go up to the mid $40,000.
“Specially made from leathers such as cow, alligator, and ostrich, Hermes bags are not only highly sought after in the fashion industry because of their craftsmanship, but also because of their exclusivity.
“Traditionally, when purchasing a bag directly from Hermes, a buyer will have to join a waiting list, which can take several years to reach the top of.” …
“SHIREHOME on January 12, 2022 at 3:38 pm said:
About the Strads vs Modern violins. Our perceptions on what we like have changed over the years. Kind of like CA wines vs French wines. CA wines are “softer” whereas French have more of a “harder” taste. I went from CA to Aust and NZ to South American and then to French. I prefer French.”
I recall having begun to drink wine in my early 20’s. It was a big thing as we all recall in the late 70 through 80’s. Mostly German wines in my post-college and young marrieds social group for some reason. At that point I tried French wines and decided they tasted like chalk; end of story.
Dropped wine and did not pick it up socially again until about ten, no, about 15, years ago.
I’d invariably just drink whatever was served with dinner, paying virtually no attention. A Merlot, a Cabernet, maybe a Medoc. Thought they were a bit dry at first, but got to like, and then to prefer them. If tasked to buy wine those are what I would get by default, paying absolutely no attention to details other than glancing at the variety and the card on the shelf showing the rating.
Eventually someone asked me what I’d like. Thinking back to my tastes and samplings of decades before I naively responded that if it was to be a red, anything was fine, and that I pretty much liked all wines except Bordeaux’s.
Nothing was said to my face.
Walter Sobchak on January 13, 2022 at 2:24 am said:
Further to my 10:39 pm above.
So, why do Stradavarius instruments command million dollar prices?
Sociology, not music. Two illustrations:
First: Watches. Until the mid 1980s, if you wanted to know what the time was to a tolerable accuracy, you needed to spend lots of money on a watch. A watch that most people could afford was not very accurate. Then along came quartz watches and for less than $100, you could buy a watch that was much more accurate than the most expensive Rolex.
Did that put the Swiss watchmakers out of business? No Way. Mechanical watches are a thing with young men today. And they can easily cost as much as a new car. https://www.hodinkee.com/”
Beautiful watches. But …
What this country really needs a a good $500.00 self-winding watch.
You don’t want to mislay a $4000.00 watch or even a $2,000.00 watch, on the counter of your hotel room, or that sink of a restaurant. At least I don’t.
A handful of years back I went surfing to see if I could pick up a couple of the economy brand Swiss made mechanical watches as in, “New Old Stock” offerings.
Had a couple of Borel watches chosen, and then at the last moment realized they were ladies models.
Such a deal.
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Frederick said this on one of the Ted Cruz’ threads:
That first sentence is a clever analogy and I think we saw that yesterday. There is always a lot of bluster at congressional hearings, but rarely any tangible results. Looks a lot like “professional” wrestling. Even if it isn’t choreographed it is generally ineffectual. Or, if the goal is rather to enrich Congressmen and Lobbyists, it is extremely effectual.
The video claims that about 650 Stradivarius violins still remain. I found this incredible since I knew Stradivari also made other stringed instruments. If he was also making violas and cellos, how many violins could he have made in his lifetime? It’s hard for objects to survive four centuries, even coveted objects.
In just 60 years about 20% of the Shelby Cobras ever made have been lost. And those are big, one ton objects that cost about $46,000 in today’s dollars and were coveted at the outset.
It looks like the video may be incorrect. The 650 number likely corresponds with all Stradivari instruments made, not specifically violins. From this website:
https://www.musicalhow.com/how-many-stradivarius-violin/#:~:text=How%20Many%20Stradivarius%20Violins%20Are%20Left%20in%20the,Are%20Left%20in%20the%20World%3F%20%3A%20Estimated%20200
I once owned a Strad … or at least a viola labeled “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonensis Faciebat Anno (date)” on the inside.
Of course it turned out to be one of the many fakes, but I had minutes of fun as a sixth-grader imagining I had struck the jackpot with the used viola my stepfather had bought me.
As a once-proud Strad owner, a few years ago I took a look through the web on the latest in things Strad and discovered:
___________________________________
A modern instrument was the clear winner and a Stradivarius the loser in a double-blind test of old Italian and new violins, conducted at the Auditorium Coeur de Ville in Vincennes, Paris. In a follow-up to the controversial experiment conducted in Indianapolis in 2010, ten professional soloists compared the tonal qualities of twelve instruments – six by 18th-century Italian luthiers and six by contemporary makers. The results, published on 7 April in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, confirmed those of the 2010 study, which showed a general preference for new violins and that players were unable to reliably distinguish new violins from old.
https://www.thestrad.com/blind-tested-soloists-unable-to-tell-stradivarius-violins-from-modern-instruments/994.article
Rufus, yeah that’s my take on the GOP in general….all talk no action. Even when Trump was in office and they had both houses…all talk, no action. Friends of mine can’t believe I’m not a registered GOP, but an independent and I tell them why. If there was a new 3rd party, I’d join, but there’s too much money tied up in the current two party system.
I have a Stradivarius. A true authentic Bach Stradivarius Trumpet. They still make them like they used to.
The label in my fiddle says it’s a genuine Stradivarius, and if it turns out wrong, I guess I’m out my $25.
physicsguy,
You may be interested in what Andrew Yang hopes to do with his Forward Party.
Also, what Dave Smith is doing with the Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party.
Also, Eric Weinstein’s Unity Party.
I really believe Yang and Smith will get a lot of traction in the months leading up to November, 2024.
We are taking part in a vast medical experiment, the consequences of which we do not know…
https://www.theepochtimes.com/sars-cov-2-vaccines-and-neurodegenerative-disease_4207235.html?utm_source=News&utm_campaign=breaking-2022-01-12-2&utm_medium=email&est=fK9kf6VsEWjEimVC7brBpel1l8GvZiPlcIhtzgA2%2BBrm5scnK9C85j50N1yrf3q0
In a widely mocked New York Times column, Thomas Friedman suggests Liz Cheney as a potential running mate for Biden in 2024. I think this is a great idea. I would like to see the never-Trumper Republicans and the Biden Democrats join forces so all my political foes would be on the same team.
If you think the 2020 presidential election was free and fair, vote Biden/Cheney.
If you think the events of January 6th were an insurrection, vote Biden/Cheney.
If you want a federal takeover of all future presidential elections, vote Biden/Cheney.
I think we are overdue for some kind of political realignment and a Biden/Cheney ticket would be a good place to start.
Have you seen the documentary Strad Style? Watch it, no spoilers, it’s really suspenseful (in addition to the usual documentary virtues, informative, revealing etc.).
About the Strads vs Modern violins. Our perceptions on what we like have changed over the years. Kind of like CA wines vs French wines. CA wines are “softer” whereas French have more of a “harder” taste. I went from CA to Aust and NZ to South American and then to French. I prefer French.
Registering with a political party depends on your state and if it has a open or closed primary system. In Oklahoma, if you are a R – you can only vote in the R primary. The Ds let the Independents vote in their primary.
In many cases, who wins in the primary is very important, and in some cases, the primary also acts as the general election if there is no opponent for the other side.
I usually pay attention to the local and state elections, but in the last cycle, I really checked out the school board elections. Many times, the local & state people move up to the federal level so it is important to get lots of good people running your state.
physics guy – congrats on the Dawgs.
Oh yes, open thread, here’s something: last Saturday’s guys’-night movie was a (basically worthless) Korean crime-action flick called Nowhere to Hide. Way too much of the cliche’d stylized-brutal-violence-set-to-pretty-music (see previous parenthesis). The opening scene was an elaborate assassination of a businessman (whom we never learn anything about) just to steal his briefcase full of money. The only reason I mention it is the music: “Holiday” by the BeeGees. I’m not even their second-biggest fan but it was the highlight of the show.
The AP has now decided that ‘cases, cases, cases’ are no longer worthy of emphasizing.
https://twitter.com/HotlineJosh/status/1481380564036993026
@Gregory Harper 2:39 pm: “In a widely mocked New York Times column, Thomas Friedman suggests Liz Cheney as a potential running mate for Biden in 2024. I think this is a great idea. “
She’s a Cheney, so that will never happen and she wouldn’t get Democrat votes if she did.
BUT: I was struck with another inspired ‘never happen’ thought experiment a few weeks ago: What if Donald Trump picked Tusli Gabbard as his running mate and she accepted? I know this is another ‘never happen’ deal for someone like Gabbard, and I don’t particularly like her politics, but…. I think they would clean up. I also think they might make a pretty good political team. What if they ran as Independents?
Tom Friedman being a vapid moron. It’s reassuring to see that there is at least one constant amidst the constant flux of trouble and strife.
liz,
Yang has a lot of interesting stuff to say about that and how he aims to eliminate biases with his Forward party movement.
From their site: https://www.forwardparty.com/whyforward
@Rufus: Wikipedia says: “A Stradivarius is one of the … string instruments built by members of the Italian family Stradivari, particularly Antonio Stradivari (…Antonius Stradivarius), during the 17th and 18th centuries.”
Big family 2 centuries. 650? no problem. Indeed, I would guess than the total number produced was at least an order of magnitude greater (10,000). They couldn’t have kept the doors open and the family feed if it were not that many.
Further: They didn’t work by themselves. They had workshops. The shops had all kinds of apprentices, journeymen, servants, and laborers. The master probably made very few instruments by himself after his apprenticeship ended. He spent his efforts supervising the grunts, inspecting their work, maintaining the process, dealing with customers and visiting firemen. He put his chop on everything that went out the door and no doubt stood by his product 100%.
BTW: The Cobra Comparison is not that good. Violins seldom take their owners around the corner at 140 mph. http://www.wreckedexotics.com/shelby/cobra
Why can’t we make a new Stradivarius violn?
Because you cannot make a new 300 year old thing.
Every Strad in the world has 30-400 years of history behind it. It has been played, damaged, repaired, stored, und so weiter, and has developed qualities that no new thing can possibly have.
Second: One of the hardest tasks in the world is to make identical things. The ability to make objects that have interchangeable parts is a triumph of modern manufacturing technology.
I made hamburgers for dinner. I bought about 1.5 lbs of ground beef at the store. I made it into four patties of equal size (I am nuts enough to have used a scale to measure them out). I froze two and cooked two for dinner. The same meat, the same size, the same shape, and cooked in the same pan at the same time. But they came out different. One bigger than the other, one more done than the other.
Chaos theory explains it. The output of many systems, like my pan, is sensitively affected by minute differences in conditions.
Third: The question is poorly specified. Modern violins can produce excellent quality sound. So good that they have passed repeated bind tests. https://www.thestrad.com/blind-tested-soloists-unable-to-tell-stradivarius-violins-from-modern-instruments/994.article
Not only that, but many musicians are buying carbon fiber instruments. “a carbon fiber violin produces a rich, warm, and distinguished sound that rivals even the time-honored Stradivarius.” https://bestmusictool.com/carbon-fiber-violin/
Not only do they produce excellent sound, but they don’t swell, warp, rot, or break easily.
I found some articles on the Strad on clickbait pages for lost technologies. Which got me interested in Damascus Steel:
___________________________
It was during the Crusades that rumors of intricately patterned swords carried by Middle Eastern warriors started to spread throughout Europe. It was the 11th century, and they were seemingly impossible to break, nick, or wear. They were Damascus steel, and no one’s sure just how they were made.
https://www.grunge.com/181948/the-biggest-inventions-lost-to-time/
___________________________
The wiki page is less clear on whether Damascus Steel has been adequately reproduced.
Perhaps others here know more.
Article about Antifa group whose member was recently arrested in FL:
https://areaocho.com/antifa-intel-report/
And the group’s website:
https://flaylf.noblogs.org/
Some of you here with long memories may recall that there was once a Tall White Female going by the name of Ann Coulter.
https://vdare.com/articles/ann-coulter-media-magic-how-democrat-pedophile-jeffrey-epstein-became-a-trump-scandal
https://vdare.com/articles/ann-coulter-the-great-epstein-cover-up-part-2
Apparently there still is such a person.
@Huxley: Yes. Damascus is understood and can be duplicated, not that you would want to. We have lots other steels and other metals for different uses.
Further to my 10:39 pm above.
So, why do Stradavarius instruments command million dollar prices?
Sociology, not music. Two illustrations:
First: Watches. Until the mid 1980s, if you wanted to know what the time was to a tolerable accuracy, you needed to spend lots of money on a watch. A watch that most people could afford was not very accurate. Then along came quartz watches and for less than $100, you could buy a watch that was much more accurate than the most expensive Rolex.
Did that put the Swiss watchmakers out of business? No Way. Mechanical watches are a thing with young men today. And they can easily cost as much as a new car. https://www.hodinkee.com/
Even worse. handbags.
If you need to carry stuff around, you could go to target and buy a bag for a few dollars. Even a top of the line luggage manufacturer like Briggs And Riley will sell you:
“Large Shopping Tote: Amazing space. This large shopping tote’s exterior is crafted from ballistic nylon, providing the ultimate in durability. Comfortable and luxurious leather shoulder straps make this one easy carry-on. Backed by our Simple as That® Lifetime Guarantee for $219.00.”
https://www.briggs-riley.com/products/baseline-large-shopping-tote-255
But, if you want to spend money, well there is this:
“Nearly $1 million worth of handbags stolen from Worth Avenue store” by Rachida Harper Skinner • Palm Beach Daily News • Dec. 27, 2021
https://www.palmbeachdailynews.com/story/news/local/2021/12/27/hermes-handbags-worth-almost-1-million-stolen-palm-beach-store/8922601002/
“Thirteen one-of-a-kind Hermes handbags valued at a total of nearly $1 million were stolen from Only Authentics boutique on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach during a grab-and-smash incident.
* * *
“Hermes handbags come in a variety of styles and lines made up of one-of-a-kind pieces. The Kelly and the Birkin are the most expensive handbags in the line. …
“Eight Birkins and five Kellys were stolen, with the most expensive being a 40-centimeter green crocodile skin Kelly listed at $89,000 and a 32-centimeter Vert Bosphore Birkin listed at $110,000, according to a store employee.
“Most Birkins on the store’s website range in price from about $17,000 to about $90,000, with a couple priced at $480,000. The Kellys start at about $5,000 for a wallet and go up to the mid $40,000.
“Specially made from leathers such as cow, alligator, and ostrich, Hermes bags are not only highly sought after in the fashion industry because of their craftsmanship, but also because of their exclusivity.
“Traditionally, when purchasing a bag directly from Hermes, a buyer will have to join a waiting list, which can take several years to reach the top of.” …
I recall having begun to drink wine in my early 20’s. It was a big thing as we all recall in the late 70 through 80’s. Mostly German wines in my post-college and young marrieds social group for some reason. At that point I tried French wines and decided they tasted like chalk; end of story.
Dropped wine and did not pick it up socially again until about ten, no, about 15, years ago.
I’d invariably just drink whatever was served with dinner, paying virtually no attention. A Merlot, a Cabernet, maybe a Medoc. Thought they were a bit dry at first, but got to like, and then to prefer them. If tasked to buy wine those are what I would get by default, paying absolutely no attention to details other than glancing at the variety and the card on the shelf showing the rating.
Eventually someone asked me what I’d like. Thinking back to my tastes and samplings of decades before I naively responded that if it was to be a red, anything was fine, and that I pretty much liked all wines except Bordeaux’s.
Nothing was said to my face.
Walter Sobchak on January 13, 2022 at 2:24 am said:
Beautiful watches. But …
What this country really needs a a good $500.00 self-winding watch.
You don’t want to mislay a $4000.00 watch or even a $2,000.00 watch, on the counter of your hotel room, or that sink of a restaurant. At least I don’t.
A handful of years back I went surfing to see if I could pick up a couple of the economy brand Swiss made mechanical watches as in, “New Old Stock” offerings.
Had a couple of Borel watches chosen, and then at the last moment realized they were ladies models.
Such a deal.