$ign$ of the times

Please, people!! I just don't have enough antacids and tranquilizers to keep watching the game of chicken that's going on in Washington. It's beyond humiliating when the head of the International Monetary Fund has to urge U.S. politicians "to show some political courage," like their European counterparts, and resolve this debt ceiling crisis.

Wake me when it's over.

Meanwhile, all over town, Borders books stores are standing vacant and forlorn.

And yet, there, right in the middle of affluent Buckhead shopping district, is a new shop whose title proudly proclaims its merchandize:

"Previously Owned Luxury Watches"

So I guess even the affluent have been hard hit, and some have had to sell their Rolexes. It's a good time to pick up a bargain, if you're inclined to have such heavy metal hanging on your wrist.

Another $ign of the times:

A few months back I was predicting that the rollout of the much ballyhooed documentary about Sarah Palin's early career in politics, "The Undefeated," would be the crescendo to her announcing her candidacy for president.

Well, it premiered a couple of weeks ago, and then began a run in the theaters. I was wrong. In this week's box office receipts, it came in as #55 of all the films playing, earning a whopping $24,664 the entire July 22-24 weekend. This represents a 62% decline from last weekend and is about 1/2000th of the box office for Harry Potter, both films in their 2nd week.

Palin has been strangely silent and off the radar screen. No way this is going to morph into a run for president. I suspect it marks the beginning of the end of her lucrative moment of fame, too.

Good.

Ralph