Kalshi: Let's not miss the forest for the trees....

 

Fact is, the "controversy" over an entirely AI-produced ad is of zero interest to me.  I couldn't care less if the people peddling this awful gambling app loophole are actual sad examples of American Idiots or AI-generated ones.

The point is still the same:  Kalshi is just gambling wearing regulation-proof clothing.  "Futures Markets" have a certain level of legitimacy because they've been around forever (although, as I posted the last time I looked at Kalshi, the bucket shops they originated in were banned in New York more than a hundred years ago.)  But whatever you call it, this is just making everything you can imagine an opportunity to lose your money to a life-destroying addiction.  That's what we should be talking about here.  Not AI.  Don't give a damn about the AI.

Don't give a damn about Disney's role in this, either.  The Mouse wrecked Star Wars, no real surprise it's in the process of helping to wreck the rest of society now.  

This Carshield "Autopsy" Commerccial

 

"Whatever's under this sheet, we can be sure of one thing:  It's not a part covered by Car Shield, so no matter how much the owner paid, this is not a covered repair."

"Ok, let's take a look at it anyway.  We have to wrap this up so we can get our paychecks before Car Shield has to deal with another Class Action Lawsuit."

(quick peek)

"Oh my god!  It's our CAREERS!"

"Um, you didn't know they were dead already?  What the hell do you think we're doing in commercials for a scam car warranty company?  You think Ernie Hudson and Danika Patrick are A-listers too?"

"I don't know.  Are we done now?  I have to return a call from my agent, something about an audition with the Medicare Coverage Helpline." 

This Ancient KIA Sales Event Ad just seems too perfect for an April Fool's Day Post

 

First, there's the quaint notion of a $149-per-month lease deal.  Remember when those were a thing?  The only time in my life I ever leased a car, from 2006 to 2009, I paid $350 a month.  And that was for a 2-door Civic Coupe.  Sure, there was virtually nothing to pay on it when I took ownership at the end of the lease, but still. 

Second, there's the idea that all of these people are instantly smitten with the idea of leasing a freaking KIA for multiple years.  I'll admit that the only way I'd ever drive a KIA is through a lease deal, because these things are nothing but headaches and they depreciate in value faster than- well, faster than an ice cream cone melts in the sun. 

Third, this ad works a lot better if it ends with all of these zombies just following that truck off a damn cliff.  I can't think of any more accurate way to describe the feeling of actually being stuck making payments on a (still, at $149 a month and $2 k down) overpriced piece of junk like a KIA Soul.  Better than spending three years regularly being reminded that you are going to pay $7400 to drive around in a pile of crap you will just give back in 36 months because even you aren't dumb enough to hand over another $10k for a car with a Kelly Blue Book Value of maybe half that at the end of the term.  Unless you really are an April (and every other month of the year) Fool.