US Politics

Not most art. The top end of it perhaps. Meanwhile there’s a very fragile infrastructure of mid range galleries and artists whose works don’t fall into the investment driven, guaranteed income, secondary market end of things. Lockdown has brought about a massive democratisation of things with artists selling their own works direct at very low prices (see the #artistsupportpledge for example).

Most gallerists worth their salt show a direct interest in the ‘collector’s’ relationships with the work they’re buying and would advise against buying anything for investment without having a creative interest in the work / artist themselves.

How can it be art when it doesn't even look like anything?

Most art now days I believe is bought to launder money. They're willing to pay top dollar, in fact over the dollar, to clean their illicit funds. This inherently pushes up the 'value' of said art. Where people are willing to pay millions for a watch or a painting because they can later sell it.

Watch thread

I love you.

How can it be art when it doesn't even look like anything?

my 5 year old could have said that.

How can it be art when it doesn't even look like anything?

Ah yes, but it looks like what it doesn't look like.

Doesn't even rhyme either.

Yes but, is it art?

Watch thread

Very much so...

But actually you're right and I agree, @Wrongcog, top end bullshit.

Just like top end watches.

Isn't this the most ubiquitous car or something, too?

#rep
Would drive

Seems not, although with sales of 22 million since 1979 it's up there. Toyota Camry's at 40+ million though.

Do you mean the Toyota Corolla?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_automobiles

I think if you consider model continuity, the Beetle is still the best-selling car. In recent decades, models like the VW Golf have been changed so much that they've really been many different cars, and the only thing that sold so much has been the name.

No idea which model has the greatest number surviving, though.

That's the one. Both very boring cars, so interchangeable in my mind.

CSB - my only ever arrest, while with the Arts & Antiques Unit, was for conspiracy to defraud and money laundering at an Arts & Antiques market.

No idea which model has the greatest number surviving, though.

Isn't it Land Rovers? A google tells me

"According to some estimates, 80% of all Land Rovers manufactured
(since 1947) are still in use"

Can't find a good source for it though

I'd heard something similar about Rolls-Royce.

That wouldn't surprise me. Land Rovers must be trashed at much higher rates than 20% though

Both very boring cars

The RWD 1990s Camry v6 had such a slow (4sp?) auto-box you could goad it into changing down just as you go onto wet mini-roundabouts ... if you hit them slightly too fast it'd engage the lower gear right in the turn. Not boring, hours of fun.

In every other situation, super-boring.

Caveat: I was 18. Don’t judge me.

Also, weren't Beetles (OG, not the remake) licensed to factories in Mexico or something and churned out in their masses?

Isn't it Land Rovers? A google tells me

Quite possibly. As I said, I have no idea.

IIRC the production in Mexico only started when they'd already built ~15m in Europe.

Similar to the Citi Golf in South Africa. Their factories in Mexico, Brazil, South Africa all had extended runs of models that were discontinued Europe.

Arts & Antiques Unit

Did you arrest someone or get arrested? CSB indeed!

i thought it would have been embarrassing if their colleagues arrested them