Many of us feel ripped off in our day to day spending, so much so that bringing up even a single rip-off story in a group of people is likely to trigger a flood of them from everyone else. Whether it’s at the movies, in restaurants or on vacation, we seldom believe we are getting as much for our money as we ought to. Of course, some rip-off stories are more debatable than others. Often times, what is called a ripoff is little more than someone’s subjective opinion of what they “really” deserve for their money, whatever that means. However, other purchases actually do appear, by all objective criteria, to be a raw deal just about all the time. Today, BillShrink analyzes some common ripoffs as mentioned recently by CNN Money, that most of our readers are likely to be well acquainted with.

[From The 12 Biggest Ripoffs in America]

Evgeni Plushenko’s long, delusional journey continues. Just days after the silver medalist for men’s figure skating denied that Evan Lysacek is the true champion of men’s figure skating, he has apparently awarded himself a platinum medal. From his official website:

[From In Plushenko's mind (and website), he's the platinum medal winner - Fourth-Place Medal - 2010 Olympics Blog - Yahoo! Sports]

My name is Andrea Fay Friedman. I was born with Down syndrome. I played the role of Ellen on the “Extra Large Medium” episode of Family Guy that was broadcast on Valentine’s day. Although they gave me red hair on the show, I am really a blonde. I also wore a red wig for my role in ” Smudge” but I was a blonde in “Life Goes On”. I guess former Governor Palin does not have a sense of humor. I thought the line “I am the daughter of the former governor of Alaska” was very funny. I think the word is “sarcasm”.

In my family we think laughing is good. My parents raised me to have a sense of humor and to live a normal life. My mother did not carry me around under her arm like a loaf of French bread the way former Governor Palin carries her son Trig around looking for sympathy and votes.

[From 'Family Guy' Actress Responds To Sarah Palin's Criticism]

Why bees are partial to coffee and cigarettes – they may be addicted

[From Bees are partial to coffee and cigarettes | Mail Online]

“Marijuana Saved My Son’s Life” Mom Mieko Hester Perez will be a special guest at the T.H.C. Expo (Talking Hemp and Cannabis) at the Berlin (WI) Public Library this Saturday, Feb. 6, from 12pm-3pm. Hester Perez’s story of how she turned to medical cannabis, legal in her home state of California, after her 10 year-old autistic son’s weight plummeted to 48 pounds has been featured on Good Morning America, Fox News and other media. The T.H.C. Expo (Talking Hemp & Cannabis) will be held in the Berlin Public Library, located at 121 W. Park Ave., Berlin.

[From Mieko Hester Perez "Marijuana Saved My Son's Life'" coming to Berlin WI T.H.C. Expo Sat. Feb. 6]

Let’s see…I have eaten spaghetti sandwiches, mac n’ cheese sandwiches, beans n’ rice sandwiches, Vegenaise and ketchup sandwiches, cucumber and cheese sandwiches, hummus sandwiches, bean curd sandwiches, lasagna sandwiches, seaweed and couscous sandwiches…the list goes on. I think you get the point…I love sandwiches. But besides eating whatever is leftover from last night’s dinner in between two pieces of bread, I can make some rather wonderful sandwiches – really, I can.

The Marinated Tofu sandwich is definitely one of my favorites. It is full of flavor and great to send to school in your vegan child’s lunchbox.

[From Ste Martaen Vegan Cheese]

It’s no shocker that the vast majority of marijuana arrests in NYC ensnare blacks and Latinos. But what’s really incredible is how, um, high the number of pot arrests have risen during Mayor Bloomberg’s first two terms. The lowest-level marijuana arrests rose 50 percent since Giuliani time, according to a recent study [pdf] by Harry Levine, a sociology professor at Queens College. Last year, the NYPD made more low-level pot arrests “than in the 12 years of Mayor Koch, plus the four years of Mayor Dinkins, plus the first two years of Mayor Giuliani” combined. And all this happened under the Mayor who famously told New York, “You bet I did [smoke pot], and I enjoyed it.”

[From Pot Arrests Soar Under Bloomberg, White Tokers Mostly Exempt - Gothamist]

NYC Police Accused of ‘Anal Assault’ Over Marijuana Use
New York City police have arrested over 300,000 people for low-level marijuana possession since 1997, sometimes employing outrageous methods to humiliate citizens.

[From NYC Police Accused of 'Anal Assault' Over Marijuana Use | Drugs | AlterNet]

The freeway sign arrived in Los Angeles five days after I did. It appeared out of nowhere, a valiant attempt by one of its citizens to help drivers make sense of their city, just as I appeared in a silver Subaru, valiantly attempting to make sense of what were apparently not called “highways” but “freeways.” Not that you should ever refer to them that way, I was constantly reminded. “Just say the number,” a friend sighed—the route number, which I kept forgetting should always be prefaced with a “the,” a colloquialism my plain-speaking Midwestern brain couldn’t register. Nor could I comprehend being strapped into a car for hours a day, the sheer inhumanity of a Sigalert, a sweeping six-lane interchange as vast and impossible to navigate as the Pacific Ocean.

[From The Fake Freeway Sign that Became a Real Public Service - Design is a Verb - GOOD]

Davidope is creative director and founder of Volll studio, based in Budapest. Besides that he has a tumblr where he show off some cool stuff he find online and AWESOME animated gifs he make. Black and white ipnotizing machines, optical illusions with 3D depth. You’ll get stunned.

[From Davidope’s mesmerizing animations :: koikoikoi.com - Visual Arts Magazine, graphic design, illustration, photography, interviews, inspiration, tutorials]

People who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a much higher risk of pancreatic cancer, an unusual but deadly cancer, researchers reported on Monday.

[From Study links sugary soft drinks to pancreas cancer | Reuters]

Acupuncture ‘lessens pain in brain not body’, scientists discover

[From Acupuncture 'lessens pain in brain not body', scientists discover - Telegraph]

Coke? Check.

Black leather Members Only jacket? Check.

Thin dirtbag mustache? Check.

Framed picture of a Delorian? Check.

. . . OK, Let’s Party!!!

[From Partying Dudes » Rad-Dudes.com]

Closer inspection of a photo of Sarah Palin, during a speech in which she mocked President Obama for his use of a teleprompter, reveals several notes written on her left hand. The words “Energy”, “Tax” and “Lift American Spirits” are clearly visible. There’s also what appears to read as “Budget cuts” with the word Budget crossed out.

[From Stefan Sirucek: EXCLUSIVE (Update): Palin's Tea Party Crib Notes]

Years from now, when the memories of Sunday begin to fade, New Orleans Saints fans will still remember where they were when cornerback Tracy Porter intercepted Colts quarterback Peyton Manning and returned the ball 70 yards for the decisive touchdown of Super Bowl XLIV.

[From Merci beaucoup, New Orleans Saints: An editorial | Opinions - - NOLA.com ]

A remarkable scenario played out in the American media recently, and beyond the import of the story itself is the quantum shift in public perception that it illustrates.
A pro-cannabis group based in Colorado called for a nationwide boycott of coffee giant Starbucks after activists spotted a Starbucks logo on the website of a virulently extremist anti-drug organization. After intense negative publicity ensued, Starbucks actually felt moved to issue a denial.

[From When 70 Percent Support Marijuana Legalization, Starbucks Gets The Message | NEWS JUNKIE POST ]

Fudge. Easy, decadent, satisfying, raw? You bet. Traditional fudge is made from lots of sugar (the recipe I had called for 2 and 1/2 cups!), butter, evaporated milk, and usually semi sweet chocolate, which is loaded with more sugar and fat. This raw food recipe is quick and only contains almonds, cacao powder and a little agave. I threw in walnuts because they have a ton of their own health benefits (see here) and I love chocolate and walnuts.

[From Raw Cacao Walnut Fudge | Rawmazing Raw Food]