The Sunday New York Times these days is offering some unique merchandise for sale, by phone or internet, and for those who may have missed the Father's Day edition, I mention a couple.
The emphasis of this NYT "store" is naturally on things New Yorkish, on things historical, and heavily on sports memorabilia. A couple of items in particular caught my eye.
For $179.95 a fellow can buy an original and authentic "Goldrick brick -- yes a real brick, 7.5"x2"x4" -- from construction of Yankee Stadium in 1922-23. Tastefully encased.
Whoa, you say. Come on. Many. many sports fans are not even faintly fond of the Yankees, or of New York in general. Some are downright hostile. Wouldn't pay a dime for a brick.
I know. These fans, though, might be interested in another Times offering of much broader geographical interest. The store is selling, in single frames, a collection of individual items from each one of the 30 major-league stadiums.
So what are these items? They're "capsules."
What's in them? Dirt.
But not ordinary dirt.
According to the Times' sales pitch it's "game-used" dirt. Authenticated dirt.
Honest.
You can get it for $279.95. Probably plus shipping.