To Whiten or not to Whiten?

I've been watching season one of the Remington Steele series of the 80's. This picture doesn't really show this, but this was before teeth whitening was the fad. 

It is refreshing to see what peoples teeth actually looked like before the masses started bleaching their teeth. I find this procedure jarring from the standpoint that it is so often overdone and is obviously a cosmetic enhancement. I've seen people whose teeth almost look translucent because they didn't know when to say when.

I also had a friend that did this when it was first fashionable who protested that it was her tan that made her teeth look whiter than usual. Yea, right. If you're going to do this, at least own up to it when you are called out. If you are not ashamed to do it, then why not fess up to it?

I didn't realize...

... how badly Joan Rivers was addicted to plastic surgery until I saw this comparison. Wow. How sad. She is almost as creepy as Michael Jackson. The difference is she makes fun of herself. 

But is that good or bad? Does she do it before others can do it to her? Is it a defence mechanism? Does it really matter? Only if we want to identify why some are compelled to go under the knife over and over and over and over. 

Frankly, it just creeps me out. Ugh. Sad. So sad.

Before and After

So, I was sitting in in the historic Michigan Theater watching the movie trailers while waiting for "Milk" to start. Now I'm a real stickler for etiquette and am annoyed at rude people who talk, even during trailers. Imagine my surprise when watching a trailer for "The Wrestler", when I blurted out, THAT'S MICKEY ROURKE! I had heard he was making a comeback but was so shocked when I realized that that is who was on the screen!

Wholly cripes! He was almost unrecognizable. What a sad, sad, sad example of body mutilation. You don't see it so much in men, but boy-oh-boy when you do, it is clear they have body dismorphic issues as well. 

This just makes me really sad for him. I'm told his performance is spectacular and that it is the possible beginning of a come back for him. Maybe. But what kind of future roles would we see him in? Limited at best. There just are certain roles that one won't be cast in because of how you look. Ironically, that is what he hoped to avoid by undergoing the procedures in the first place. Like I said. Sad, sad, sad, ever so sad. There are a lot of mixed messages in this world.

Weight loss advertising

It is obvious that we are into 2009. I was home today with a cold and watching a program on TV while blowing my nose and consuming lots of liquids. 

Commercial after commercial were advertisements for weight loss gimmicks. I say gimmicks, because the only true way to loose weight and keep it off is through lifestyle changes. Diets and pills might help you to loose the weight but unless you address the issues in your life that got you where you were, you will gain all the lost weight back. 

The latest to join the market to prey on hopeful folks in the Smart for Life diet. Their tag line is who stole the cookies from the cookie jar? The diet consists of replacing real food with cookies. Really? Cookies? How affective in the long run do you think this diet will be? We have become a society that consumes in excess and wants quick fixes to problems. 

If you want to loose weight, add exercise to your routine and learn to eat real food in proper portions. It's really that simple folks. The problem is most people look for an easy way out and are not really willing to put the effort in to make the changes necessary to have a more healthful life. 

Don't waste you time or money on the quick fix gimmicks. They don't work. Start with short goals and work toward achieving each one. Be realistic and reward yourself for the baby steps that are necessary to attain the long term goal.

Now get out there and take each day one at a time!

A little Irony

Does anyone else see the irony here? 

I spotted this on my walk this morning. Couldn't resist documenting my find.

Addict attempts amputation of own arm

Police say a man tried to cut off his own arm at a restaurant in Modesto, California because he thought he had injected air into a vein while shooting cocaine and feared he would die unless he took drastic action.

Authorities say that 33-year-old Michael Lasiter rushed into the Denny's restaurant late Friday August 29th and started stabbing himself with a butter knife he grabbed from a table.

They say when that knife didn't do the trick, Lasiter took a butcher knife from the kitchen and dug into his arm.

Police Sarent Brian Findlen says Lasiter told officers he thought he needed to amputate his arm to keep himself from dying from the cocaine injection.

Lasiter was taken to a hospital for treatment of severe cuts and the Denny's closed for the night. No wonder.

Yet another reason not to do drugs kids! 

You'll cut your arm off! You'll cut your arm off! 

(Think 'A Christmas Story'...you'll shoot your eye out!)

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Imagine...

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This can all be yours in your GIANT new "energy efficient" home! Just click here to learn more.

Doesn't this strike anyone else as an oxymoron? Don't these two concepts work against each other? Energy efficient vs. 5244 sq. ft.? 

I think the green concept was lost here. Green is about sustainability and the good use of space. While 5244 sq. ft. is about not liking your family as far as I'm concerned. Who wants to live in (or clean) a home that is so big you can ignore each other with ease? I've never understood "why bigger is better". It just makes no sense to me. Who needs a house this size?

Smoking ban closer to reality

From a previous post you would think that I would support a ban on smoking in bars and restaurants in Michigan. A bill is making it's way thought the house and senate right now that would make this law. Well, I have to say that I do not support this bill and here's why. 

No one makes you eat in a restaurant that has a smoking section. If you don't want to be around smoke then eat somewhere else. 

But you ask, what about the employees? I have two things to say on this. First, let's face it, restaurant work is easy to find. If you don't want to work where smoking is permitted, then find a new job. Second, from my experience speaking with employees who work in a restaurant that went from a smoking section to non-smoking only, they prefer the latter. Why? You ask. Because they make more money in tips from smokers. These folks saw a dramatic reduction in the cash they were taking home after the change.

Besides, shouldn't the choice be up to the owner? Ultimately the owner knows his or her business best and should be able to make the right policies for the continued health of their investment. (Please no health comments. I'm well aware of the issues with smoking. That word was selected on purpose.) 

I object to to this potential law for many reasons, the final observation being the continued regulation of the public by government. If the law makes sense (no smoking in public places) then yes. When there are other options, (go to a different restaurant) then no. In my eyes, it is as simple as that.

For me, it's a nicotine addiction....

The commercial opens with folks talking about their revelation about smoking.

They proclaim that for them smoking is more than just a habit, well for them, it is an ADDICTION! My oh my, that's why it has been so hard for them to quit. All this time they thought they had a habit, when in fact, it turns out it was so much more. What a revelation. That's why it has been so hard for them to quit. Not a habit, but an addiction! The light bulb finally went off! I'm ADDICTED! Well, that explains it all. Here they thought they just had a habit, but no it is an addiction. 

So, where the heck have these smokers been? (Probably huddling outside puffing away in the snow and rain.) How come they haven't seen any of the information on nicotine? It's even on the side of their cigarette packages. Maybe smokers can't read? Maybe nicotine mixes up the letters and causes dyslexia? Perhaps it affects their vision and they are unable to focus on nicotine information. Whatever it is, apparently Philip Morris thinks they are really stupid. This commercial is insulting and dumb. But then, often that is the norm and not atypical. 

One final observation, isn't it interesting that Phillip Morris is promoting quitting smoking. Hmm. Think about it....