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We were watching HGTV's House Hunter's International tonight about an American who quit his job in the US to move to Argentina, where he started a successful real estate business, and now needs a vacation home.

Curious about his business, I did a quick Google search and found his story on his website. Clicking around some more on his site, I found a link to renovations, in which he describes how he spent lots of time and effort on a house in Punte del Este. Turns out, it was the same house he "chose" on the TV show. Only the house they showed him (number 2 on the episode) was the same one he highlights on his website, post renovation! They just took down some pictures that he put up after he moved in. It was a total sham!

How many of the episodes are a big fake? Was the episode before about the wine loving couple moving back to Long Island to a new home right on a vineyard too good to be true? Makes you think, doesn't it? Stupid reality TV.

Lou Dobbs calls out everyone writing what I'm sure a lot of people are thinking. If you're jewish, please follow his best bit of advice:

And I hope you'll celebrate the Christmas season by offending someone. If you're Jewish, how about a hearty "Happy Hanukkah" to a good Christian? If they're offended you've revealed a fool, not such a good Christian and someone you shouldn't waste your expression of good will upon. But get ready for a few robust "Merry Christmas" calls to be thrown your way as well.

I for one will welcome any "Happy Hanukkahs" tossed my way. Even better would be the ocassional "Happy Kwanzaa!"

Charter's your friend. They are. Really. Two examples on how they're the bestest ever:

1) We've been waiting for an HD-capable PVR ever since we upgraded our service to include HD channels for our sweet new TV. Unfortunately, they were out of HD-capable boxes and it would be a six week wait. Six weeks later, it turned into an additional month to six month wait. "There's none in the county," we were told. Finally, a month later, today we get a letter saying the PVRs are in and we should call within seven days to make sure we're still interested. So we call the number, no one is there. After Kris hits every button to talk to someone, Tony picks up. She inquires about the letter and how we get our PVR. Without even checking his database, he immediately responds that there are none in Wisconsin. (Here's the best part.) He goes on to say how awesome his two PVRs are. "HE COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT THEM." Um, Tony, HOW ABOUT GIVING US ONE OF YOURS, GENIUS!" Thanks for your help, jackass.

2) A co-worker of Kris' performed an experiment with the Charter customer service. To inquire about a billing error, a roommate dialed the service number, and followed the prompts for billing inquires. Soon after, the co-worker called the same service number, but followed the prompts for new service. While the roommate was still waiting for some one to take her call, the co-worker was immediately helped by a live person. She simply handed the phone to her roommate and she got her dispute resolved quickly.

On Thursday's "the show" by Ze Frank, he makes a great comment on terrorism and how to react:

Bush today said this country is safer today than it was prior to 9/11. Personally, I don't think he knows. Whether we like it or not, terrorist attacks on Americans are now part of the global reality. They will continue to happen. Many places around the globe have had to deal with a similar reality for years. India, Ireland, England, Spain, Russia, to name a few. In many cases, these societies have pulled together and not allowed isolated acts of violence to tear at their fiber. Like disease and the forces of nature, it's a risk that we have to rationally come to terms with. The government's responsibility is to make sure that fear and terror are not disproportionate to the reality of the situation.

Today the President said, "This nation is at war with Islamic fascists who will use any means to destroy those of us who love freedom to hurt our nation." Generalized statements like this which instill nebulous fear without specific information are exactly in line with the goals of terrorism.

It seems that the upward trend of oil prices has lots of people talking. Robert Kiyosaki has some interesting thoughts on the coming oil crisis. One such thought that struck me:

The problem today is that oil companies are too short-sighted, the environmentalists too far-sighted, and politicians only concerned with being elected. As a result, there will be a gap between the end of oil and a conversion to less destructive forms of energy. In this gap, all hell may break loose.

In The End of Suburbia (website), they talk that the coversion away from oil-based energy sources will happen at a community level, not so much on a world-wide basis. Could you ban together with your neighbors to get a solar array built to provide energy for the community? Neighbor disputes about grass height turn into disputes on electricity use and how many lights are needed to landscape the front yard. A brave new world indeed.

Don't do it. It's not wise. You will get wet, dirty, and probably hurt. Your moped will get smashed. I've seen it happen. It's not pretty.

John Warner reviews Alissa Quart's Branded: The Buying and Selling of Teenagers in yesterday's Morning News. He makes alot of interesting points, mostly based on his commercial youth, including Gordon Gekko's mantra. I found this to be most true:

Ironically, the rise in consumerism embraced by the contemporary right has had a corrosive effect on the "family values" and issues of morality that conservatives claim to embrace. Wal-Mart recently moved to stop distributing consumerist bibles like Maxim and FHM in their stores because they may improperly expose youngsters to sexual images, but they aren't thinking twice about selling lipstick and blush to a ten-year-old.

Warren Buffet speaks out the latest tax cuts:

Suppose this measure goes through and the directors of Berkshire Hathaway (which does not now pay a dividend) therefore decide to pay $1 billion in dividends next year. Owning 31 percent of Berkshire, I would receive $310 million in additional income, owe not another dime in federal tax, and see my tax rate plunge to 3 percent.

And our receptionist? She'd still be paying about 30 percent, which means she would be contributing about 10 times the proportion of her income that I would to such government pursuits as fighting terrorism, waging wars and supporting the elderly. Let me repeat the point: Her overall federal tax rate would be 10 times what my rate would be.

When you listen to tax-cut rhetoric, remember that giving one class of taxpayer a "break" requires -- now or down the line -- that an equivalent burden be imposed on other parties. In other words, if I get a break, someone else pays. Government can't deliver a free lunch to the country as a whole. It can, however, determine who pays for lunch. And last week the Senate handed the bill to the wrong party.

Out at lunch today, we saw a Ford Explorer from Minnesota that was recently vandalized. Keyed into the side of the car in 12-inch high letters was "YOURCARHOGGAS." It took us a bit to figure it out, but once we did, I wanted to cut some trees down. It amazes me how idiotic some people can be. At least some kids kept it clean, though still annoying, this past Earth Day.

Last week, Dave Winer posted about his hatred of CSS. In reply, both Zeldman and Mark commented that they had had enough of Dave's whining. Then Sam made a comment and Dave exploded.

I was waiting for this to happen. First I saw Zeldman's post, then Mark's, and I couldn't believe Dave wasn't retorting on his site. But Kottke directed me to Sam's carnage of a post. I always thought Winer was a bit of a whiner know-it-all-and-I-don't-hesitate-to-tell-you-I-told-you-so kind of a guy. I hesitantly put his site on my blogroll, always thinking that I could take it off later. Well, now I can, and have good reason too.

Update, 3:39 PM: Mark has added value (or lack thereof) of being flamed by Dave. It is known as The Winer Number.

2nd Update, 11:13 PM: Bryan Bell got stabbed by the vicious Dave.