Mystery Hoarder Eludes Press in Men's Toilets

Record smashed, Hong Kong wine auction proves a hit

HONG KONG: A press scrum waited for the mystery man in the gray shirt to exit the room. They chased him down the hallway, surrounded him, and peppered him with flashbulbs and questions, until hotel staff intervened and he managed to slip into the men's toilets.

Singgih Gunawan of Singapore finally emerged to address the media briefly in Mandarin. His claim to fame was spending 1.89 million Hong Kong dollars, or $242,000, on 12 bottles of 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti at what proved to be the biggest lot at the biggest wine auction in Asian history.

Perhaps I have taken some liberties with the headlines here. The mystery man might not have hoarded the wine as an inflation hedge. The 1990 wine might be exceptionally good and perhaps none of its $242,000 price tag is even remotely inflationary. It could also be that he was merely thirsty and found no suitable alternatives. Further, he might have actually needed to use the bathroom and welcomed the questions of the press. I've clearly made a lot of questionable assumptions here.

In my defense, especially as it relates to taking liberties (puns intended):

Afterthoughts: To Hell in a Handbag

It’s troubling when mundane, normal, private objects and activities are permanently recast as scary threats. For how long can we not bring a purse? For how long will they make us take off our shoes at the airport? When does the embargo on shampoo end? 2030? 2040? When does this stop?

Level Orange is our new normal—that’s the threat. Not fanny packs. Not diaper bags. We give up a little freedom here, and a little freedom there, all the while being told it’s for our own good.

And then it’s gone, and handbags will be the least of our problems.

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