Underestimating Jersey Shore Snooki?

Even though, I had a doubtful privilege of watching the "Jersey Shore" about twice, I've already made up my opinion about the whole cast and the people who produced that skunky show.  Feeding America, and the rest of the World, with the images of "fun loving" individuals from New Jersey, made me realize how low the entertainment industry have stooped down for the mighty buck.

For years, the "Jerry Springer Show" was the crown princess of the television garbage.  Amazingly, viewers in Europe gobbled up those stories like French baguettes, believing in a twisted image of this country.  I still remember the look of disbelief on my Danish host family when I argued that even if people on that show are real, they are a true and minuscule minority of the U.S. population.

So why is everyone despising Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi?  Is it her language, promiscuous behaviour, bitchy attitude, body image, limited vocabulary, or stupidity?  It might be that Snooki encapsulates everything what's wrong with America these days.  Is being a shallow idiot a new norm for a majority of young twenty-something?  Not so fast.  I dare to say that America is underestimating Snooki - big time.

We are being taken for a ride with all those "reality shows" but only few participants emerged as true winners.  Snooki is one of them.  She's designing and promoting her own bling-bling and clothes, slippers, selling books, cashing on appearances and Team Snooki Boxing.  Not surprisingly, Snooki is already capitalizing on her newborn son.  Being worth $2 million is a decent accomplishment for a 24-year old girl.

So, how do we explain to the next generation that garbage-foul-mouth behaviour is a less desirable line of entrepreneurship?  It falls on the parents to sift through the media landfill to curb the trash that is being served.  Eventually, our kids will grow up and make up their own choices.  As for Snooki, we can all learn that being business-minded, aggressive, and confident, bar the garbage, can lead to a success.  Is success without respect for you?  It all depends on the situation.

Haiti mess with a golden twist - episode 2

Wyclef Jean, thank you for your input about how badly Haiti needs help but perhaps you should direct your love for your country to the people of your country.  Haiti mountains hold over $20 billion worth of gold, not counting silver, copper and other precious metals.  Canadian companies are already paying off the whole corrupted Haitian government to drill and keep 90% of the profits.  So stop whining.  Your country has the resources, has the power, but has absolutely no will to change anything.
Simply put, decades of corruption, crime, and lack of honest government made it's mark on the whole population. 

They have to start with the basics.  What about the piles of trash left by the people who lived in the tent cities?  Piles of trash in the river?  Who will clean that up?  UN, UNESCO, or maybe some Christian organization?  But wait, why clean up after yourself when the aid workers will do it for the Haitians.  They have to "rebuild" their country after all. 

2.5 years later and "300,000 Haitians still living in temporary homes -- primarily tents"?  Media reports show aid workers carrying water and food to schools and large brick buildings, where are the natives?  In their tents?  Who took away their will to do something about their conditions?  If all unemployed Haitians got together, they would build safer houses in no time.  

You don't hear about Dominican Republic whining about their issues?  Same island, same area, same climate.  Why do Americans fly over to Dominican Republic to enjoy the weather and beaches?  The world governments who provide aid, forget about UN, should strongly suggest to setup vocational schools for adults to teach them everything.  From taking care of the family, cooking, getting a job, managing the money, to thinking about a future and taking care of their county.  Don't want to hear about how bad they had under all the regimes and all that.  The credit for that time already passed.

But wait, we cannot criticize those people because they are poor and helpless.  Where did all that money collected after the earthquake go?  What can they show for?  Show me pictures of new homes, schools, roads build by the government, any government.

And then, show me the secret bank accounts of Haitian officials before and after the earthquake.  I'll tell you where that money went.

And btw, the gold story is true and I'm surprised that the US media haven't jumped on it yet.  Ah, yes, Americans would know the truth so let's keep them in the dark.  Thank you Al Gore, thank you or the Internet.

Let the good times roll with Prince Harry

So the 27-year-old Prince Harry had some fun in Las Vegas.  Drinks, nude girls, and partying.  The TMZ got the pictures and the net is blowing up.  Is this really a front page news these days?  Some drunk dude partying?  Send the Redcoats to the rescue!

Not surprisingly, Prince Charles is already threatening to sue all the British news media if they publish any of that shiznit.  Queen Victoria would trip over her tight corset seeing this decadence.  

But who can blame a rich twenty-something for being just plainly horny and immature.  It's not like he was streaking on the Las Vegas Strip.  Although the street name would imply that nudity is encouraged.  

I wonder who sold the photos to TMZ?  At first, I felt that gutter muncher would perfectly describe the douchebag or douchette who sold the pics.  Then, I realized that making money of stupidity of others is perfectly legit business.  

So this is my top 10 list of the lucrative pictures in disgraced positions:

10.  Jack Black - eating organic carrots

9.  Joe Biden - giving a backrub to a man

8.  Paris Hilton - giving a commencement speech at a university

7. Rod Blagojevich - without his wig

6. Arnold Schwarzenegger - doing a cow yoga pose

5. Chris Rock - getting a backrub from Joe Biden

4. Joan Rivers - discreetly removing laundry clips from the back of her head

3. George Clooney - getting married in Cancun

2. Kim Kardashian - getting butt collagen injection

1. Taylor Swift - being spanked by a femdom

Happy hunting you paparazzi you!

Car dealers bait-and-switch technique

The most annoying sale tactic is the infamous bait-and-switch technique.  Most of us, customers, came across this sneaky way of selling goods and services in one form or another. 

Wiki defines the bait-and-switch as:

The goal of the bait-and-switch is to persuade buyers to purchase the substitute goods as a means of avoiding disappointment over not getting the bait, or as a way to recover sunk costs expended to try to obtain the bait. It suggests that the seller will not show the original product or service advertised but instead will demonstrate a more expensive product or a similar product with a higher margin

Although bait-and-switch seems harmless when it comes to buying a cell phone service or grocery item, one group, the car dealers, takes it to another level.  Exuberant prices of new cars are a fact of life but why the dishonesty when selling them?   

Photo by dragon_art at sxc

The multiple quotes for new cars available through sites like edmunds.com, car.com, or kbb.com, allow savvy customers to receive the lowest bids without the need to hassle the price on the lot.  Checking the actual price at truecar.com gives us another tool to make an informed decision about the fair price of the car.

So here's the world's first and shortest car buying play:

The exposition.

Yes, I'm on the market for a new, awesome car.  I do my research, request the quotes, wait for the prices to roll in.  Of course, I use google voice, those dealers are very persuasive.

The bait.

I think the dealers learned that providing the actual price too quickly is not in their best interest.  They want you at the dealership with other happy customers.  Lately, getting a straight answer from different dealers, and brands, has been a bit challenging.  Knowing your exact model is the key to success.  Why?  Because as we all know, it doesn't matter what the customer wants, it's what customer buys.  

The reveal.

Finally, I get clear answers regarding models, prices, taxes, plate/registration fees, destination, and document fees.  Who came up with the destination and document fees anyway?  This is such scam.  Aren't those fees part of the operational and administrative costs?  In order to sell a car, it has to arrive on the lot.  Wouldn't be cheaper if the customer just drive up to the factory to pick up the car?  And the document fees.  Common.  Dealership pays the salesmen and office clerks for their time already.  It's double dipping; end of argument. 

The switch.

Since one of the price quotes was so low, about $1,000 less than the other dealers, against my better judgment, I allowed the web manager to lure me in for a test drive.  The fact that he didn't remember my name and the time of the appointment upon my arrival is small potatoes comparing to the fact that the car he advertised was simply, the stripped down version of the requested model.  And guess what?  Yes, the car was a stick with no AC.  The only person I blame for wasting my time is me.  Because, in the back of my mind, I knew that the price was just too unrealistic.  

The exit. 

So, I left without test driving the car.  Among many dealerships I dealt with, the Chevy one just made me realize that GM won't cut it for my next car choice.  Even though, my very first new car, that I loved for years, was 1997 Pontiac Sunfire.  And that's how, ladies and gentlemen, people make their decisions about the brands they buy.  To be fair, Kia is off the list as well.

The conclusion.

The search continues.  And the good, old phrase, caveat emptor, has even stronger meaning today.  Buying a new car is the second, most expensive purchase, an average American will make at least once in his or her lifetime.  Which brand and dealer will prove to be the most honest deal maker?  I will let you know.

Thank you Chick-fil-A employee Rachel Elizabeth!

The 26-year-old Tuscon, Arizona Chick-fil-A worker, Rachel Elizabeth, deserves a medal of honor.  The way she handled the cheap fame hungry ridiculous douchebagery stunt pulled by so-called Adam Smith, fired from a CFO position at Vante medical company after the fact, restores my faith in the young generation of Americans.  

Further bashing of Smith is tasteless.  Not surprisingly, the video of bullying Rachel while getting a free water from a Chick-fil-A drive-thru backfired.  Smith's apology is even more pathetic then the offending video.  The new moral compass, YouTube, is a dangerous tool.  Use it wisely next time you want to proof to the world how great you are supporting whatever hot button topic of the week.
 

Dan Cathy, you should be proud of how your employee represented your company. Maybe a managerial position is in order in this case? 

Straight shooter: gun control debate

The latest shooting craziness in Aurora, Colorado with 12 people dead and 58 wounded and in Oak Creek, Wisconsin with 6 dead (plus the shooter) and 3 wounded, puts the nation on the gun control bullet train.  Both sides bring heavy loaded arguments to the table to shoot down the opposite views on the gun control.

Photo by hisks at stock.xchng

Every American knows the wording of the most talked about Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution passed by the Congress:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Arguing the clearly defined right to own guns is a waste of time.  If the will of the nation is there, the Congress has the power to pass another Amendment to remove the right to own personal weapons.  Who and how wold collect and account for all the weapons, remains a question of the day.  Maybe National Rifle Association could provide a list of it's members to make the job easier?  

Back on the Earth, the gun control debate is just heating up.  Dozens of different statistics used by two sides support both truths.  As with any knee-jerk discussion or law, are we looking at the issue through a narrow barrel of a gun?

The obvious questions:

Does anyone really need a 100-round ammunition drum for self defense?

Why are semi-to-auto kits legally sold?

Do we need military style AR-15 semi-automatic rifles in private hands?

Do background checks and gun licensing really work?

How to regulate Internet gun/ammunition sale?

A car can become a deadly tool, but the Congress doesn't ban automakers just become some crazy husband runs over his wife.  Fertilizers were not outlawed because of the Oklahoma City bombing.  The amount of firepower available to Americans, either legally or illegally, is overwhelming.  But behind every tool, there is a person who makes a decision to use it. 

What about the mental health of the killers?  The warning signs were there.  Those psychopaths should not be allowed to posses a firearm.  Obviously, the criminal background check is not sufficient anymore to weed out crazies.  Should states consider mandatory gun safety classes and psychological evaluations of the future gun owners?  It sounds prohibitive but it might prevent more tragedies.  

And here comes the punch line: more Chicago residents - 228 - have been killed so far this year in the city than the number of U.S. troops killed in Afghanistan - 144 - over the same period.  That's just one major U.S city!

Any new laws and dozens of existing ones won't stop the gang murders.  Instead of looking at the end result of failed polices, lawmakers and police should find a way to eliminate the fundamental causes that gangs exist.  And those causes fit in the same box with run down neighborhoods, poor education system, lack of employment opportunities, and overwhelming signs of moral decline.  

Law abiding citizens are an easy target for a gun control debate.  But when you consider 4 insane killers in the most recent shootings out of about 115 million U.S. households with guns, the majority of gun owners are responsible people.  Families who lost their loved ones would disagree.  Regardless of the goal, the psychopath is capable of finding other means to hurt people.  Paying attention to behavior of others and to your surroundings are one of the best weapons in preventing tragedy. 

Voting made easy: thumbs up!

The upcoming November 6th, 2012 presidential election, is one of the most anticipated events of 2012.  Both, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, try to lure the undecided voters with speeches, dinners, celebrity supporters, promises, and paint.  Yes, paint.  Painting the other candidate in bad light. 

But the hottest topic of the year is the boomerang issue of the state voter ID laws.  Like the hanging chads - remember 2000 presidential election? - the voter ID laws are being reviewed and decided by the United States courts.  93-years old Viviette Applewhite, suing Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, leads the pack.

Chad, by the way, is #121 out of 1220 of the most popular names in the U.S.  Not to shabby.

Naturally, online state-by-state voter ID maps present the current law information tailored to their political or financial interests.  Whatever your political views are, the maps can give you some idea on the law at each state: National Conference of State Legislatures, Lawyers' Committee For Civil Rights, Rock The Vote.

The race card is being played heavily in this debate, since the government officials finger minorities as the largest group with lack of or non-valid IDs.  Disenfranchised voters push back with lawsuits, and the vicious circle continuous. 

Those who demand national or federal identification card, mostly to prove citizenship status, overlook the obvious - passports and passport cards.  Although, state residence and address are omitted from those documents, the IDs provide a solid proof of citizenship.  If federal voting system would ever come to existence, I'm being sarcastic here, we would have an official federal ID available through the USPS.  Bonus: saving mail carriers careers.

Source: http://travel.state.gov

Placing the political or racially driven motives on the back burner, how can an average person manage all the government, business, school, and work requirements for a valid form of ID, without one?  Sooner or later, one must present or use an ID to accomplish some of the basic tasks in life.  Even the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, lists a driver's license/state ID as one of the choices to apply for the fishing license.

Top 10 list when the state photo ID is required:

10. Taking a state exam - that would include medical one

9. Taking commercial flight - pat down search included

8. Enrolling at college - not the electoral one

7. Being pulled over for speeding - is that less dangerous than texting?

6. Closing on the house - there is a reason banks call it mortgage

5. Filing taxes using e-file - thank you TurboTax!

4. Opening a bank account - not sure about the offshore one

3. Paying by check at the grocery store

2. Entering the nightclub - don't confuse with strip club

1. Getting served at the bar - use with caution Mario: Kapitanska Vodka

So where do we go from here?  It might sound simplistic but I vote for a voter registration card and a bucket of electoral ink.  What's the better way of announcing your accomplished civic duty than flipping your inked finger saying, yes, I voted today!