Monday, August 17, 2009
The Recession's Reach
Yes, hard times are being felt by all citizens. And by citizens, I mean citizens of everywhere. The economic downturn, as it has been euphemistically branded by politician and reporter alike, has reached far and wide. So far and so wide, that nobody is willing to give it any kind of border or limit.
Since this economic downturn has yet to be truly defined, I'm beginning to think of it in a more universal manner. It could very well be infinite. One could say that this has had galactic implications. In fact, as recently as this past Friday this writer has discovered evidence of just how far the recession's effect has reached.
My wife and I were walking our large hound, and ventured to the Union Square Green Market. This charming Manhattan venue is where you can pay full retail and even higher for farm-fresh items, trucked in from upstate New York and far-off places such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Local Manhattan residents and European tourists flock to this market, open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, not counting Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Union Square Green Market is a magnet for street artists, t-shirt sellers and musical buskers attempting to capitalize off the overflow crowd.
It was in this market where the extent of the recession was brought home to me, in living Technicolor. It seems that Boba Fett has been unable to successfully locate and capture any intergalactic criminals in such a long time, that he has been reduced to playing the accordion for spare change (see photographic evidence below).
It could very well be a sort of musical extortion- "Pay me or I'll play 'Lady of Spain' or 'Too Fat Polka!'"
This is how far we have fallen economically. It may not end there. How long before Boba Fett will be joined by Princess Leia? Mutt and Jeff? Elmer Fudd? Hell, even Bazooka Joe will not be immune!
And so I must plead to Congress, President Obama, The United Nations, and the World Bank! Save us! Save us all, even our fictional characters, from the ravages that have befallen us!
Since this economic downturn has yet to be truly defined, I'm beginning to think of it in a more universal manner. It could very well be infinite. One could say that this has had galactic implications. In fact, as recently as this past Friday this writer has discovered evidence of just how far the recession's effect has reached.
My wife and I were walking our large hound, and ventured to the Union Square Green Market. This charming Manhattan venue is where you can pay full retail and even higher for farm-fresh items, trucked in from upstate New York and far-off places such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Local Manhattan residents and European tourists flock to this market, open every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, not counting Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The Union Square Green Market is a magnet for street artists, t-shirt sellers and musical buskers attempting to capitalize off the overflow crowd.
It was in this market where the extent of the recession was brought home to me, in living Technicolor. It seems that Boba Fett has been unable to successfully locate and capture any intergalactic criminals in such a long time, that he has been reduced to playing the accordion for spare change (see photographic evidence below).
It could very well be a sort of musical extortion- "Pay me or I'll play 'Lady of Spain' or 'Too Fat Polka!'"
This is how far we have fallen economically. It may not end there. How long before Boba Fett will be joined by Princess Leia? Mutt and Jeff? Elmer Fudd? Hell, even Bazooka Joe will not be immune!
And so I must plead to Congress, President Obama, The United Nations, and the World Bank! Save us! Save us all, even our fictional characters, from the ravages that have befallen us!
