A few weeks ago, I decided to visit one of the biggest flea markets in New Jersey. It was a nice drive on Saturday with not that much traffic that I reached there on time. Parking the car near the gates of the Flea Market was not a problem since not many people had come yet and it was cold.Most of the vendors had either put up the shop or were in the process of doing it and a small trickle of buyers were browsing around and some even buying. I just wanted to get a feel of how that market was working. Although I walked the entire length of the market, it was too cold to stay in on much longer.
You could find anything and everything you can think off in that market. Although I did not buy anything, but you can still be able to buy brand new stuff at reasonable prices. This is not the first time I have been to a flea market, so I know not to perishable or food or medicine from there since they can be of questionable quality or expired. Also unless it is a reputable vendor or who you can expect to be there every week, I would also try to avoid buying electronic stuff. These flea markets tend to going on all year round, usually on the weekends and it is not only outdoors but also indoors where you can buy electronics if you know the vendor will be there every week. I am read that the outdoor vendors don’t charge sales tax but the indoors more permanent ones do charge it.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The Illusion of Wealth
There is a growing illusion that we are a wealthy country. No doubt on the basis of the GDP we are the richest country in the world but based on debt we are also the most heavily indebted country in the world and that is where people lose sight of it. During the boom years, people were under the illusion that there house values will go up forever and they started to rake up debt based on paper profits going on vacation, buying cars and just maxing out there credit cards under the illusion that the rising home values will offset the debt they have. But when everything especially the house prices came crashing down this illusion shattered.
Now this illusion is being carried over in states where the unions are fighting for the right to preserve their pay and promised pension and health care benefits when everybody has now come to know that the states are almost bankrupt or on the verge of it were it not for the deferment of pension payments that they are supposed to do. We are still under the grand illusion that we can tax and grow ourselves out of this recession and that the common citizens would keep on accepting higher property taxes and higher spending when they are really hurting due to high unemployment rate. To adjust to reality is really painful, and despite all the talk about the deficits and debt, the public still clamors for the same level of benefits while taxing the rich (which everybody knows have a limit to taxation). We will see how long this illusion of wealth will last before it sinks into common folks that we are all in deep debt and not rich.
Now this illusion is being carried over in states where the unions are fighting for the right to preserve their pay and promised pension and health care benefits when everybody has now come to know that the states are almost bankrupt or on the verge of it were it not for the deferment of pension payments that they are supposed to do. We are still under the grand illusion that we can tax and grow ourselves out of this recession and that the common citizens would keep on accepting higher property taxes and higher spending when they are really hurting due to high unemployment rate. To adjust to reality is really painful, and despite all the talk about the deficits and debt, the public still clamors for the same level of benefits while taxing the rich (which everybody knows have a limit to taxation). We will see how long this illusion of wealth will last before it sinks into common folks that we are all in deep debt and not rich.
On the lighter side-Movies- 2012
Now here is a movie that should be definitely watched on the big screen. Although based on the Mayan Calendar that the world will supposedly come to an end on December 21, 2012, this movie is pure fun entertainment with fantastic special effects showing the destruction of the world vividly and also showing that the only the Chinese are fast enough to make Arks in record time. John Cusack stars as a failed author whose is estranged from his family but comes together to save the day. With Woody Harellson as the weird guy who predicts the end of the world correctly. Highly recommended.
On the lighter side-Movies- Year One
Lightweight comedy starring Jack Black as the guy in a primitive village who is not good at anything and thus gets kicked out of the village from where he journeys beyond his village to visit other hereto unknown places. Michael Cera is his buddy who comes along with him. A near hit or miss comedy movie with some of the usual Jack Black slapstick but overall a flat comedy. Avoid it if you are not a fan of Jack Black, otherwise your choice. Recommended with reservations.
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