Interesting Items from the Great California Garage Sale

Photo: California DGS The “Great California Garage Sale,” taking place August 28-29, is selling surplus items from the state government in order to help close a substantial budget deficit. Items for sale have been deemed non-essential, which raises the question, why did California have some of them in the first place? This includes more than 500 vehicles, a range of confiscated items and other unlikely objects you wouldn’t expect to be in government hands. You can also find out more about the auction on our Funny Biz Blog.Click ahead to see some of the items in this unique garage sale!By Paul ToscanoPosted 28 Aug 2009

Photo: California DGS The garage sale includes a wide variety of consumer electronics products, including  ten  35mm Cameras, 166 BlackBerrys, eight car stereos, 255 computers, 33 floppy disks, four GPS units, five microwaves, a radar detector, two satellite receivers, video games and even a Sphygmomanometer (a blood pressure meter device).

Photo: California DGS Only in California, and right from the state’s capitol. On sale are ten Sacremento Kings bobble heads, all listed in “fair condition.” There are also other Kings items available, including a “Kings Avenue” sign, Kings flag, poster and towel.Funny Business with Jane Wells

Photo: California DGS Also featured in California's garage sale are two unique safety devices - Evacutrac evacuation chairs, which are used to allow small individuals to "easily evacuate a larger passenger down stairs," according to the company that manufactures them.

Photo: California DGS One of the  featured  items is an XBox360 with a Halo 3 cover. Too bad for California that just this week, Microsoft lowered the price for its Xbox360 Elite system by $100, lowering the government’s potential profit.

Photo: California DGS The garage sale lists 13 pages of California government vehicles up for sale, with odometers ranging from 21,774 miles to 270,628 miles. An overwhelming amount of these cars are Ford, GM and Chrysler models, with a small number of Toyota, Honda and Hyundai cars for sale. Ironically, many of these cars would have qualified for the federal government’s recently expired “Cash for Clunkers” program.

Photo: California DGS The official list of items also includes a surfboard. Interestingly enough, the surfboard has the word “Chronic” across the top, perhaps inadvertently referring to California’s liberal marijuana laws.Funny Business with Jane Wells

Photo: California DGS So much for California being the green capital of America. Listed for sale are five "fake plants." At least they were taken care of, as they are all listed in "good condition."

Photo: California DGS Perhaps best said by the Flickr user “Maka” in the comments of one of the government’s posted images of these items… “Why does the state of California own a ring?” In all fairness, the jewelry sold in the auction was originally confiscated goods. Also available are 27 watches.

Photo: California DGS Perhaps a confiscated item, this "Harley Davidson" leather jacket is displayed with matching leather gloves and a matching leather hat.

Photo: California DGS Perhaps the California government’s gym is being downsized, but seemingly only in the exercise step department. Although no other exercise equipment is listed, 39 individual exercise steps are up for sale.Funny Business with Jane Wells

Photo: California DGS Although one would like to imagine this item was right out of the governor’s mansion, perhaps an extravagant purchase from years past, this antique piano is actually a confiscated item. The dust from on the original photo of the item suggests it has been left unattended for years.

Photo: California DGS It’s hard to imagine why California would have invested in the purchase of these high-performance racing bikes, but the government has deemed them  dispensable.

Photo: California DGS Technically a “Massaging Seat Topper,” it looks like California is foregoing ergonomics with the sale of this genuine back massager.Funny Business with Jane Wells

Photo: California DGS California is also trying to sell six dental chairs, one of the more unlikely items. Some lucky California dentist may get a bargain on these items. Unfortunately, they are only listed in “fair condition.”

Photo: California DGS Want to ride like the California Highway Patrol does? Well, here’s your chance. Included for sale are several motorcycles, most of them 2004 BMW models. Although they may look new, the bikes have  seen some wear and tear, with 100,025 miles the lowest number on the odometer of these vehicles.

Photo: California DGS Another outrageous item is a “Fish Rite” boat, along with an outboard Johnson motor. If you’d like the complete package,  there's also a fishing pole, in fair condition. Replay SlideshowWorst Expected 2010 Budget GapsBiggest US Welfare StatesFunny Business with Jane Wells

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