I get a big lump in my throat when i watch "Extreme Makeover, Home edition

[A HERETIC I AM]

...Every time....I guess it's because i wish i had the wherewithall to be that charitable. I try to make a bit of a difference in somebody's life every day, but realizing that it is a commercial venture, driven by ratings, i cant help but get a bit lumpy throated when i see how folks lives are changed with a bit of help on the scale they do on that show.


Am i a big sap?


Or what?

[Arugula Latte]

1. I know what you mean. It's touching. However,

my complaint is that they could take the money and resources they spend to make one house completely over the top and instead make the lives of three or four families much better by simply making their houses nice and decent instead of decadent.

[A HERETIC I AM]

2. I wouldnt call it decadent.......

But i think they have targeted mainly families that have charitable endeavors outside their homes and those families make a significant difference in the community.

If someone gives and gives, sooner or later, they deserve something back. I just think it should be in this lifetime.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. Most of the ones I've seen are people who view themselves as victims...

And a lot of them have pissed me off. There was one family whose home burned to the ground out in the middle of nowhere in the NW. It had happened two years prior. They were living in the "shed" which could have been a nice two story house at one time, but they trashed it and hadn't bothered to clean it up. And the ruins from the old house were still there. No one had bothered to even get huge yard bags and start cleaning up, which would cost minimal if everyone helped. They built them this brand new house. And I was thinking how many other people could they have helped instead of this family who didn't take care of what they had in the first place?
Duckie

[A HERETIC I AM]

4. Yes. Quite. It appears my lump has gone.

Thanks.

I suppose you two are right. It isnt enough and yet too much that those folks get helped and others dont.


My apologies for being so short sighted and narrow minded.

OK...to paraphrase a great line from Mel Brooks's "History of the World, Part 1"

"Fuck the Poor!" (and anyone who through misfortune needs help that didnt clean up their yard)


Ah well......'tis the lounge, after all

[YellowRubberDuckie]

5. That's not how I meant it...

I just have a hard time giving to people who don't appreciate what they have, then are given more, and probably aren't going to take care of it.
Duckie

[A HERETIC I AM]

6. Very presumptious but there you go...regarding your car rental....

it is just a car. No biggie. Just make sure you adjust the mirrors and figure out the radio before you head off the lot.
oh...and if you have car insurance, decline all the extra insurance they want to offer you. If your own policy doesnt cover a rental, call your agent and ask for a temporary rider on your policy.

Hmmmm...i hijacked my own thread.


wow.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

9. LOL

I think that is something to be proud of, hijacking your own thread. LMAO
Duckie

[Arugula Latte]

10. I personally just meant that I would like it if they just spread the

help around a bit more, but I am glad that deserving families are helped.

[Nailzberg]

13. Hey, it's TV. We're in the business of selling ads. Nothing more.

At least this show sells ad space AND helps people, even if it's just one family at a time. That's more than most TV shows do for anyone.

Still, I wish we could do more.

[IntravenousDemilo]

7. So does Ann Coulter... what? That's just her grotesque Adam's Apple? n/m

[blockhead]

8. the show that was on tonight

is a house just up the street from my place. There were over 3000 volunteers throughout the project.
The community came together for a really deserving family that also gives back to the community. I don't have a problem with that.

[Blue Diadem]

11. I noticed the one company took care of the mortgage for them

That's the one thing I like to see. I've heard(read somewhere) that some of the people from the show have had a rough time with the larger new homes because of increased utilities, real estate tax increases, etc.

I only caught the last part of tonight's show. The family appears to be just wonderful people..very caring about not just their own but others as well.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

12. Me, too, but it's the vomit getting stuck.

I think what the show does is great, but I can't stand how that jackass Ty Pennington cries at everything, even BEFORE they start building anything.