I was on a long trip up north today and after driving by countless signs and displays clamoring for my 2 seconds of attention as i whizzed by them at 70mph. What engaged me was the nines. Every sign that advertised a price always ended with a nine. It was like this;

McDonald's Hamburgers for .99
Ford Trucks starting at $16,999
Designer Bedroom Sets from $999
Cell Phone for $29.99

I know the theory. I'm a relatively smart monkey. Using the number nine creates an image in the consumers mind that the item is well....one cheaper. But what i find silly is that nothing ends up being that amount because the seller doesn't have to add taxes, fees and any other related charges to the advertisement. You see the Ford truck would really play out like this;

$16,999 truck's base price
$ 4,000 taxes
$ 1,200 state registration
----------------------------------------
$22,199 final price

or something simpler like a hamburger advertised at .99

.99 cheeseburger
.14 taxes
----------------------------------------
$1.13 final price

so when you go out and think the nine is a good deal. i say think again. Either that or start to question why everywhere you buy or use is taxed. I mean i am sure those advertisers don't mean to lie about anything. I am sure it would still charge .99 cents for a burger.

I couldn't help but post this. It was far too clever to resist. I see these Highlands Ranch Blonde Monkey Chicks driving cars well out of thier league complete with a cell phone glued to her ear, applying eyeliner with the mirror dropped down all while trying to make a 3 lane change without looking. after reading this it all makes sense.... One day a father gets out of work and on his way home he suddenly remembers that it's his daughter's birthday. He pulls over to a Toy Shop and asks the sales person, 'How much for one of those Barbie's in the display window?' The salesperson answers, 'Which one do you mean, Sir? We have: Work Out Barbie for $19.95, Shopping Barbie for $19.95, Beach Barbie for $19.95, Disco Barbie for $19.95, Ballerina Bar bide for $19.95, Astronaut Barbie for $19.95, Skater Barbie for $19.95, and Divorced Barbie for $265.95'. The amazed father asks: 'It's what?! Why is the Divorced Barbie $265.95 and the others only $19.95?' The annoyed salesperson rolls her eyes, sighs, and answers: 'Sir..., Divorced Barbie comes with: Ken's Car, Ken's House, Ken's Boat, Ken's Furniture, Ken's Computer, one of Ken's Friends, and a key chain made with Ken's balls.

Required Weapons

13x9 inch baking dish (lightly buttered)

Ingredients

1/2 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
1 cup extra-sharp cheddar cheese (grated)
4 pounds russet potatoes, (peeled & sliced into thin rounds)
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
3 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups whole milk
1/4 cup of crumbled bacon

How To Put It Together

Preheat oven to 400�F
Mix cheddar cheese and Parmesan together (in a bowl & set aside).
Arrange half of potatoes in prepared baking dish, overlap a little.
Add some salt, pepper, onion and then add the flour
Add half of the butter
Add half of the grated cheese.
Add remaining potatoes & repeat the salt, pepper, onion, flour & butter application.
Save some cheese for the end.

Cook the bacon up (set it aside) and bring milk to simmer in a small saucepan. followed by the milk over the spuds (it shouldn't cover the potatoes completely), cover the dish with aluminum foil and stick it in the oven. Bake it 45 minutes and uncover to add the crumbled bacon and sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.

Jam it back in the over uncovered until the potatoes are tender and the cheese is a golden brown, usually it take another 45 minutes. Remove it from oven and let it stand for 15 minutes.

I guess i am one of the few who claims issue to this. Call it an inconvenient truth for Hillary Clinton. Its pretty interesting to watch the two Clinton's lovingly support each other during her run for the White House. Does December 18, 1998 ring a bell to anyone? That was a day when for the first time in 130 years the full House of Representatives gathered to consider the impeachment of a President. Oh yes. The issue at hand? Fellatio given willingly to Bill by Monica. Don't like the word huh? Too bad thats what happened. Hows blow job instead? Remember this quote by William while angrily waving his finger at news cameras and the American public whom he assumed were not smart enough to deduce what was going on? Well, you were i guess. He declared: "But I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I'm going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time -- never. These allegations are false. And I need to go back to work for the American people."

I would love to have been a fly on the wall. Or maybe a cockroach is a more appropriate insect in this matter. Can you hear the conversation initiated by Hillary? "Bill, you dumb ass. I can't believe how embarrassing this is. I'd divorce you right now but i want to be the first woman president and when i run you will do whatever it takes to help me get there". And like all husbands Bill replied, "yes dear." So this is what selling your soul means in the modern day and how quickly the Hillary supporting soccer mom's forget what they would do to their husbands testicles and financial's if they found him in the office supply closet driving cigars into inappropriate places (this of course depends on your point of view i suppose, in the right circumstances this could be fun).

To me its a very sad testimony to the state of affairs in American politics. Shame on the mainstream media for callously ignoring the infidelity and horrific and embarrassing impeachment process which should be reserved for things like lying about weapons of mass destruction intelligence. If your going to hold somebody's feet to the fire for smoking pot, infidelity, running away from the draft or doing blow off a Texas Rangers ass then lets call a spade a spade.

Want to know how much it costs to be President? Not only must you sell your soul by borrowing $100 million plus from the devil but you have to say its okay to every newlywed bride dressed in white that its okay for your husband to get off at the expense of a naive intern (and a moped at that) as long as he promises to help you get elected to the highest office in the land. Go Hillary! Setting a fine example of forgiveness for young brides everywhere.