AMERICA... YOU FUCKED UP.

Dear America,
                      you fucked up. You used to not give a shit about what the rest of the world thought about you. You used to make cool shit. Really good cool shit, like~ cars that were the envy of the world, fridges that often lasted longer than the people that bought them, shoes that could be re-heeled and re-soled, pens that took ink refills and signed important documents with authority, watches that you'd have repaired not replaced, lighters made of metal that saved GI's from Nazi bullets, hats made by craftsman, shelving units made from real wood, toasters that had slots big enough for bagels even before people started toasting bagels, toys that taught about the importance of capitalism, radios made from space age plastics, clothes that fit right and somehow never went out of style, candy that would definitely rot your teeth but not give you cancer, and on and on and on and on.... You had it all and you blew it. It was right there, cradled in your calloused hands and you let it slip right through your fingers. You got greedy and tight fisted and that fucked it all up.

When did quality and pride in ones work get put in the backseat? When we were sold on CONVENIENCE, that's when. It's been a long, slow, gentle erosion on our senses that's shifted what's important. That and a focus on short term costs over long term savings. DISPOSABLE GOODS~ "Why fix that OLD thing when it's cheaper and easier to get a NEW one?"

So as I sit here in my living-room,ticky-tacking away on my chinese made LENOVO laptop, wearing my El Salvadorean FRUIT OF THE LOOM undies, my Mexican LEVI's, my Dominican Republic HANES t-shirt and check the time on my Philippines made TIMEX... I wonder what I can do differently...

I s'pose I could try being more optimistic.

You Know What's Wrong With The World?

I'm all over the place in this post... sorry.

SOCIAL FUCKING MEDIA is what's wrong with the world. Regular, everyday people, want to be famous. Regular, everyday people, think the shit they have to say has some weight. There was a time when fame was something earned, for good deeds done, for saving someones life, for inventing something worthwhile. Thanks to the internets, any person with a smart phone and access to a wifi hotspot can create psuedo-fame for themselves and eventually these everyday people ACTUALLY BELIEVE THEIR OWN BULLSHIT! ?

So, don't believe the hype. There are millions of people out there using social media to "change the world". The thing is, all these people are doing is just stinking up the place with their bullshit.

Take music, there was a time, not so long ago, before MTV quit being about music, before the radio was placed in the pocket of the mass media machine, that, you would hear a tune on the radio and wonder "WOW!, that's a good tune, wonder who this is?"

Nowadays, you'll hear about the- hair, teeth, dimples, outrageousness, tits, ass... whatever, BEFORE YOU EVEN HEAR THE MUSIC and wonder "who the fuck is _____________? (insert shit like "ONE DIRECTION") So, you look them up, see what they look like, know what you're in for and give them a listen on youtube, all in an effort to see what the hype is all about. Then a quick glance at their wiki page to discover what you knew all along- "oh...right... they're a prefabricated "band", none of them play instruments, and they've been "working hard to make a name for themselves since being discovered (individually, mind you) since 2011"

Anyway, the entertainment industry is an evil meat grinder, spoon feeding the masses regurgitated shit. It's been that way for a long time, but the aggressive assault on younger and younger kids is tough to ignore. Anyway, here is the recipe for modern success in the music industry and, sorry boys, it's easier for girls to get famous.


STEP ONE- Get the kids hooked on a product at an early age, preferably a performer that is older then the target audience, start the entertainer on a kids show (preferably a Disney show)

 "Hi, I'm Miley, I'm harmless, get mom or dad to buy my cd for you ok?, HUGZ XOXO ; )~ "

STEP TWO- Transform performer into a tween idol, say an 18 year old singing puppy love songs to tweeners.

"Oh baby, baby, cotton candy kisses blah blah..."

STEP THREE- GENTLY ALIENATE THE PARENTS by making an album where songs "walk the line". They may seem like innocent love songs, but they are sprinkled with sexual innuendo and double entendre, Planting seeds so as the kids age, the songs take on a whole new meaning.

"I'm Miley, and your love came all over me and I want you behind me baby..." (or something like that).

STEP FOUR- Release an album that gives the middle finger to your squeaky clean past and let your audience (of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 year olds) know that "hey we've all done drugs, we've all been bisexual, it's ok to sleep around, it all means nothing"

"I'm HELLA Miley Cyrus and I'm bad! Like... I don't know, BOY BAD... bitches!"

STEP FIVE- MELT DOWN, FLAME OUT, PULL A MILEY CYRUS. This involves, blatant drug/sex/crazy visual references like... holding an invisible joint, suckin' on a lollipop or any phallic object, stick your tongue out (A LOT) and whoring yourself out for the world to see. (Hey, the fans are a fickle bunch, they'll soon be outgrowing you and taking their $ elsewhere, time to go for the disenfranchised $)

"Hey y'all, I'm Miley and I'm crazy like a fox, all the way to the bank"

STEP SIX- Fuck off to the Caribbean and count your millions. No pic for this one as she's still working on step five.

ANYWAYS, if you see someone in the media and you're like "who the fuck is that?" just google their name. If twitter, facebook, a modelling agency, a blog, a tumblr, ANYTHING TO DO WITH BLOODSUCKING TERRY RICHARDSON or a Huffington Post article is in the top 3 results, you'll know you're dealing with a complete fucking nobody.

Move along people... nothing to see here.

Buy American - Shop Local - And All That Jazz

***FOUL LANGUAGE ALERT***

So today, while my daughter was having her afternoon nap, instead of watching an episode of the Rockford Files on Netflix or looking at old cars on craigslist, I thought I'd go down my bookmarked links to blogs and see what people have been writing about, thinking about or what "OOTD" they're showcasing.

So I went here, and then here, here and then eventually ended up on this. I am a HUGE fan of buying American made products and an even bigger fan of NOT BUYING "ICONIC AMERICAN" PRODUCTS MADE IN THIRD WORLD COUNTRIES

Now, I have nothing against 3WC's, nothing at all, I just don't think American companies need to create jobs over there*

*Much of Asia, Middle East, Mexico etc. (just my opinion)

I've often wondered why it is that American (and other) companies send manufacturing jobs overseas yet still tout their "iconic" American-ness. Some of these companies, a few of which I will name soon, sensing a possible backlash or shift in buying priorities decided to have special editions or limited runs of "American Made" goods.

So, lets get into it a  little- Levi's. You can get a pair of douchebag rinse American Made Levis for $198 or, you can get their Mexican made Levis for $52. Now, question one is- WHY NOT MAKE ALL THE JEANS IN THE USA? Question two is- WHY ARE THE AMERICAN JEANS FOUR TIMES THE PRICE OF THE MEXICAN JEANS?

Allow me to try to answer these two questions (FOR LEVIS, if I may)... I guess both can be covered in the same answer- Production costs are lower in developing countries, working conditions are less regulated, pollution is less regulated and when COSTS are lower, PROFITS are higher. Now, Levis saw fit to have some jeans made in the US, why? Seriously, WHY? Why just make a tiny fraction of their jeans here in America? Now, this is where I start to sound like some conspiracy nut. IF Levis made all their jeans here in the USA and all had a price tag of $200 a pair, how many people would buy them? How many people pay $200 for a pair of jeans? Not fucking many. Not enough to keep Levis in business. It's the $52 Mexican/Honduras/Philippine made Levis that keeps the lights on. Plus, if you crank out low cost jeans or insert your foreign made "iconic* product here, you can SUPPRESS the wages of the American working masses.

Did American companies send manufacturing jobs overseas to maximize profits OR remain competitive? If you know the answer, please tell me.

Now, if you live in a country that is no longer known as a "manufacturing" country, what is the main industry? SERVICE & HOSPITALITY. Don't get me wrong, America still manufactures some goods- some cars, weapons, planes, chemicals... anything else? Anyway, America is not really a manufacturing country anymore is it?

Check THIS out. Service industry employees don't make shit for wages. If you live in Oklahoma and work for some small business, they can pay you as low as $2.00 an hour. TWO FUCKING DOLLARS PER HOUR! If you live in Georgia, and work at a fast food restaurant (MOST LIKELY PART TIME SO YOUR EMPLOYER DOESN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE) you'll be making $5.15 an hour. Now, how many people in OK. or GA. are buying $200 Levis? Shit, how many people in OK. are buying $52 Levis??? That's 3-4 days pay for a pair of  jeans!

Companies like LEVIS do not give a fuck about America or the American Worker, it is a business and a "good" business maximizes profits. Levis are not the only guilty partner. Look at the automobile industry, look at what they did to Detroit for Gods sake. (I recommend watching DETROPIA.) Why have cars made in Mexico or Canada when there are PLENTY of skilled labor right here in the US desperate for work? Why close down MASSIVE plants here in America and build BRAND NEW PLANTS in Mexico??? Is it to maximize profits or stay competitive?

Apple Products, designed in California, assembled in China. Why? Because having a relatively small number of design staff in the US and all manufacturing overseas helps make a SMALLER NUMBER OF PEOPLE (the board) VERY VERY WEALTHY.

To you people that "LOVE" your iPhone I suggest you read THIS, and before you counter with "But that's not Apple, it's a contractor in China!", well, Apple ain't doing much about it are they?

Again, let me state that I do not have a problem with Third World Countries and I know that there may come a day when someone somehow winds up on this blog entry and gets offended that I said Mexico was a 3WC or questions whether or not China is a 3WC when it's economy is so strong but to that person I say- "Look at the living conditions over there!"

Anyway, what started this rant was this blog entry. American made Sperry Topsiders... $300. THREE HUNDRED DOLLARS??? FOR SOME SLIP ON MUCK-A-BOUTS?!

Not that long ago, when I was on this IVY LEAGUE thing, (ok, I still am but that's a whole different blog entry) I bought a pair of authentic Sperry Topsiders. They are MADE IN CHINA and THEY ARE SHIT. The cushioning in the heel collapsed after a month, wearing them now is some form of sick torture.

Flagellants, from a 15th century woodcut wearing MADE IN CHINA Sperry Topsiders.

 The sole has also become brittle and crumbly and they are slippier than shit on smooth surfaces. Would I buy them again? No. Would I buy the $300 American Made version? What am I? a Hollywood Movie Star??!!!

Anyway, this rant has gone on long enough and it's time for bed.

Let's finish this some other time maybe?

Since My Last Post...

I started my own business- VespaRepair.com
Went to Scotland.
I am now a father.
Bought a 1970 Fiat 850 Sport Coupe.
We moved from San Francisco to Oakland.
Sold the Datsun truck seen previously.
Sold all my scooters.
Bought a 1973 Lincoln Continental.

Today my business closed down, it didn't survive the move from SF to the East Bay. There isn't enough people running around on Vespa scooters over here, there were hardly any customers, my brain started to get mushy from sitting around for days waiting for people to show up. Don't get me wrong, I spent the first 3 months putting out 1000s of business cards on scooters of all makes but it wasn't enough.  I'm ok with it though. I needed to do something new and Vespa people get on my nerves anyway.

So, what's next and what's new with you?