Something for Nothing

Quote of the Day:
"God help us if we ever take the theater out of the auction business or anything else. It would be an awfully boring world."
~ A. Alfred Taubman ~

What is it about EBay? When you hear people talk about online auctions they always mention that they 'got it dirt cheap.'

Good dirt isn't cheap. It takes a long time to build up soil to the point where it can sustain and nurture plants without artificial additatives like fertilizer. That is where the compost fits in.

If you think you can get something for nothing in this world, think again. In a way it reminds me of religion. You go to church on Sunday, try really hard to live by the rules and hope to go to heaven. There is, however, no guarantee.

I once read an article about the Emperor Constantine and his use of religion as a tool for manipulation. Have to look it up though. Constantine it seems, promoted Christianity as a politically expedient measure towards ruling his empire. He remained a heathen pagan until his deathbed. But... just be fore he took his last breath embraced Christianity and asked for forgiveness. Guess we will never know what happened to him after that.

Online Auction for Pope's Old Car Breaks Record

A casino based in Antigua has made another outlandish purchase on eBay, this time buying Pope Benedict XVI's old car.

Before becoming Pope, the former Cardinal Josef Ratzinger beetled around in a previously enjoyed 1999 Volkswagen Golf. Presumably, the Pope will now be driven around his predecessor's popemobile.

GoldenPalace.com spent $244,590 (U.S.) to buy the "holy car," as the casino calls it. The purchase set an eBay record for the number of visitors who surfed to see a picture of the car — 8.5 million.

A few months before being elected head of the Roman Catholic Church, Cardinal Ratzinger decided to sell his six-year-old VW Golf. The vehicle had been imported from Germany to Rome in 1999. Without knowing the car's history, Benjamin Halbe, 21, bought the Golf in January. It was only when Mr. Halbe obtained the car's registration documents confirming the cardinal as the former owner that he realized the truly blessed nature of his purchase.

When Mr. Halbe listed the car on eBay last week, the reserve price was 9,999 euros — the same amount he paid for it. By Saturday, offers had already exceeded 45,000 euros and kept increasing dramatically until GoldenPalace.com's winning bid.

It is not the first purchase of odd eBay items with a religious theme by GoldenPalace.com. The casino spent $28,000 (U.S.) on a half-eaten 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that bore an image resembling the Virgin Mary; $650,000 for the right to name a foot-high primate in a bid to raise money to help manage Madidi National Park in Bolivia, where the species of titi monkey was discovered; $15,199 for the name of a mother of five, who sold "Terri Iligan" in return for calling herself goldenpalace.com, and $10,600 for a pretzel that some believe is shaped like the Virgin Mary holding baby Jesus.

"GoldenPalace.com is delighted to own this holy vehicle," GoldenPalace.com CEO Richard Rowe said in a statement. "We have amassed a collection of what many consider to be holy artifacts. It seems only natural to get a blessed vehicle to carry these items."

He added that the casino is planning to showcase its acquisitions by bringing them on tour and allowing people to enjoy the experience of sitting in the divine car, in an effort to raise money for charity.