Dirt and Dollars This holiday Season

           Seems like there’s at least two ways to generate revenue using nothing but dirt; serve it up as a collectible for the filthy rich, and hold  it out as a last desperate hope for the dirt poor. Coming soon under a Christmas tree near you if you are nice and not naughty, and if someone wants to shell out $249, either out of  genuine kindness(I can’t see how),  some subtly suggestive ill-will on the part of someone who can waste $twofiddy,( more likely; take your  pick on dirt metaphors and symbols)   or  a  spirited   episode of bipolar Christmas madness(is there any other kind?), there just might be, courtesy of the world's gold standard of journalistic integrity,  a box, but not just any ordinary box. No, this “handsome wood box, exclusive to the NY Times, includes capsules of game used dirt(that is not a misprint) from every major league  baseball stadium. That’s right, hallowed ground from all 16 National(soon to be fifteen; the Houston Astros are moving to the American League West  in 2013. I couldn’t help myself} and 14(soon to be 15) American League ballparks. Including baseball shrines like Yankee Stadium (with its storied three year history), Wrigley Field, Dodger Stadium and Fenway Park. A must have for any baseball fan, especially those who attend games around the country.  It even comes with a card with fun facts and checkboxes to mark off ballparks you have visited. The exquisite, handcrafted box features a drawer to store old tickets and other memorabilia. The box’s inside lid is burnished with a U.S. map showing locations of stadiums.   Each capsule has a team logo and stands in a foam cutout. Comes with a Steiner Sports certificate of authenticity.   8.5” x .8   x 4 – brass hinges, clasp and drawer pull,  capsules 1 5/8 in diameter and a quarter inch thick. (Memorabilia shown in drawer photo do not come with the box) (Darn! That Rod Carew card they oh-so-casually tossed in there had me thinking….) made in Brooklyn(where, presumably, they know a thing or two about game-used dirt.) Starts shipping December 9^th. (Better hurry).