U.N. Cruisin' for a Bruisin'?

And now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Cruisin' for a Bruisin'

The United Nations admits it lost $600,000 last year on a cruise ship for U.N. staffers aiding earthquake-stricken Haiti.

It cancelled its $72,000-per-day rental of the Ola Esmeralda after reports about expenses which a Fox News analysis showed were as much as double the commercial market price.

The U.N. auditor's report found that due to the nature of the contract there was -- quote-- "no legal basis for getting back any money for the unused portion."

Wide Open Spaces

The U.S. government can prevent illegal entries from Mexico along only 129 miles of the 1,900 mile border -- this according to a federal audit.

The Border Patrol says there's an "acceptable level" of control along 873 miles which it defines as -- quote -- "the capability to deter or detect and apprehend incursions at the immediate border or after entry."

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the Obama administration's record. She said, "We've actually removed more illegal immigrants from the country than any two years prior."

Mo' Money, Mo' Problems

Rutgers University is coming under fire after reality TV star Snooki was paid $32,000 -- yes, $32,000 -- to speak to students about her hairstyle, fist pumps and lifestyle.

The star of "Jersey Shore" got $2,000 more than Rutgers is paying Nobel Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison to deliver the commencement address in May.

Rutgers said today -- quote-- "The decision to invite Snooki and her comedy act to the campus [was] based on input from students. No state funds or tuition money are used for these events. The university does not censor the speakers students choose to invite to campus."

One thousand students turned out for Snooki, who shared her advice: Study hard, but party harder.