Crap will Ruin Your Life

I hate to be harsh, but crap is out to ruin your life. If you have lousy taste, people will think you're stupid, and will cynically take advantage of you.

Case in point - Thomas Kinkade, "Painter of Light". He is now under FBI investigation for fraud, but some of the allegations make you wonder how stupid people manage to get their hands on money to invest so poorly.

Those ex-owners alleged, among other things, that the artist, known for his dreamily luminous landscapes and street scenes, used his Christian faith to persuade them to invest in the independently owned stores, which must sell Kinkade’s work exclusively.
. . .
After investing tens of thousands of dollars or more, former gallery owners alleged that the company’s unfair practices and policies drove them out of business. They alleged that they were stuck with unsalable limited-edition prints, forced to open additional stores in saturated markets, and undercut by discounters that sold identical art works at prices they were forbidden to match.

Gee, ya think you might lose money by opening a gallery that sells crappy art exclusively? What, couldn't you get the franchise for selling sad clowns??

In searching for links to use for this post, I came across even more horrifying news. A housing development called "The Gates of Old Hawthorne" in Columbia, Missouri, is being built with a Thomas Kinkade theme.

About 100 luxury homes will feature architectural designs inspired by the artwork of Thomas Kinkade, the "Painter of Light(TM)" and world-renowned artist.
. . .
"The homes will be reminiscent of Thomas Kinkade's charming cottages that are found in many of his works," stated Rann Haight, Director of Architectural Design for HST Group. "We will also be concentrating our efforts on creating a village atmosphere and neighborhood streetscapes such as those found in Thomas Kinkade's painting, Lamplight Lane."

For Pete's sake, people! Can't you see that a builder who thinks you have crappy taste and poor judgment is likely to cut a few extra corners?

In a tangentially related note, I was stuck on an elliptical machine yesterday at the gym and the TV in my line of site shifted to a Tom Bosley infomercial for SMC - an opportunity to lose whatever money you may have by trying to sell crappy, ugly figurines and vases to other people without any taste. It was fascinating, especially since the other TV I could see had some bizarre woman who looked like a cross between Condi Rice, Oprah and Skeletor preaching about how God expresses His favor through wealth, and that it is Christian to seek money in abundance. In any case, my sick fascination led me to this page, which must be one of the saddest pages on the internet. If you want a look into the heart of people who want to get rich quick, this is the place to go.