Reality Check

The way something works is the way it actually works, not the way it is supposed to work.  This is true of diets (they make more people fatter than thinner) as much as it is true of Mary Kay Cosmetics (their customer is their "sales agent," not the person to whom that "sales agent" may or may not ever sell the lipsticks she's already purchased from the company) or rebates (breakage).  Objective facts, friends.  Reality-based community.