I Will Play Do Gooder and Offer a Bit of Advice

I generally do not like a do gooder. Do gooders tend to do their small part in further eroding freedoms that should be taken for granted in this great nation. Yesterday I spoke briefly about some do gooders who have found some fault with a brilliant advertising campaign for a video game. These things are all too common. I myself find some issue with some of these cooking shows that have sprouted in recent years,  especially the "chef" competitions. You see these programs have the advantage of being quite interesting and entertaining. I actually enjoy watching some of them. Here lies the problem though. These type of shows portray the restaurant industry as being glamorous with a chance for fame and fortune. For a select few individuals this is the case. In reality the vast majority of "chefs" in commercial kitchens make just above subsistence level income. These shows encourage young people to go to so called "chef" schools that can cost a small fortune to attend. After graduation the student is then qualified for an entry level position in any restaurant in the country. The pay will be miserable and the hours can be brutal. Not only that, but a whole lot of so called "chefs" in charge of commercial kitchens are touchy little pricks who can make some one's life miserable at work. I have seen this first hand in my career as a barman in the industry. I felt sorry for these bright eyed newbie "chefs" who are in debt up to their keester, making next to nothing, being brutalized by some old cooking fag. A friend of mine used to own a major catering outfit and I would occasionally help him out a bit. We discussed this very issue. He told me these kids come to him asking for 20 to 25 dollars hourly and he would just laugh and offer them no more than ten bucks. He was not impressed by some "cooking degree" and would tell me that these young chefs "look like a cook to me." In other words, an expendable, easily replaced cog in the machine. Plus he also noticed that these "highly trained" kids were usually slow; something that is not tolerated in the real world of food service. Now if someone feels the need to spend a bunch of bucks for high end "chef" training that is fine. I, as a quasi do gooder, would not try to deny them the right to pursue their dream. I would not try to shut down "cooking schools" and such for profit establishments. That kind of thing is what a true "do gooder" would attempt. I am only warning those that would be interested in pursuing a career as a chef to investigate further and get the real score before investing or borrowing thousands of dollars to train for a just above minimum wage job. They will be disappointed and still be out or owe a lot of green.

Do Gooders Strike Again

The multitudes that read my blog know that I am a fan of and enjoy advertising; television commercials in particular. One recently released video game commercial is apparently drawing the ire of some self appointed cultural watchdog types. The recent Call of Duty; Black Ops spot is causing some controversy. This is the one that features Kobe Bryant and Jimmy K along with numerous other unknown actors. It shows people from all walks of life engaged in the game as if they were actually on the "field of battle." The very last scene is hilarious as it features a guy in some sort of chef outfit walking through the carnage with a pistol in each hand. He looks like some wild ass Mexican drug lord in cook's garb. It is great. It is hilarious. It is brilliant advertising. The whole point of the spot is to show that all kinds of people are engaged in playing a harmless game. The two celebs involved in the commercial is apparently the problem. You see the game is rated "Mature" and this spot apparently sends some sort of "wrong message." Jimmy and Kobe are therefore supposedly being irresponsible. That is ridiculous. I certainly hope it is not "pulled" from rotation. I certainly get sick of "do gooders" trying to save everyone from themselves. I don't like that vato. I don't like that.

Bad Television

I have watched a couple of episodes of a "reality" show called Jerseylicious (I think) which has to be some of the most ridiculous and trashy nonsense I have seen in a long long time. The program features some strange looking women with annoying accents who appear to be dyed orange. I guess they think it a tan. Their gigantic breasts poke out a great deal also but even that is strangely unappealing. They look like Oompa Loompa's with boobs. It is pure trash broadcast to the masses. No wonder the Mohammedans are pissed.

An Economist Speaks Out

The other day I was taking my child and her "brother" to the local recreation center for an afternoon of swimming. Out of the blue my daughter asks "What is up with the economy anyway?" I wondered where that came from. Her friend says "You don't want to know." Mind you this child is all of eleven years old. My daughter indicated that she did indeed want to know. I asked the young man to fill us in. He then proceeded to tell us that "People have been quitting their jobs and businesses because of Obama." Sounds about as logical as anything that the so called highly educated "economists" are saying now. The boy may have a future.

I Have Been Informed That the Televisions are "Taken"

There are some football games on but the televisions are being controlled by the masters of the house. My wife is watching KSU/Mizzou and I am just not all that interested in that contest. Perhaps in a bit. The other tv has some cartoon thingy on and I dare not interfere. So it goes. I have spoken before concerning good rock music from all eras. Despite all the commercial nonsense that one finds on radio there are always innovative bands and genres to see/hear if one looks a bit . A lot of great music originates out of Europe. Check out Eluveitie a Swiss "Folk" metal band. Quite good.

Veteran's Day

This is a day to honor and respect all Veterans of all eras. Without them this country would be nothing.

Iran's Right to Nuclear Capability is "Non Negotiable"

Reuters is reporting that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has stated that "Iran's right to nuclear capabilities is non negotiable." He is right. It is non negotiable. He will likely find that out soon enough.