I demonstrate that the two unexpected results in the local Universe : 1 ) anomalous intrinsic ( V - I ) _ { 0 } colors of the clump giants and RR Lyrae stars in the Galactic center , and 2 ) very short distances to the Magellanic Clouds ( LMC , SMC ) as inferred from clump giants , are connected with each other .
The ( V - I ) _ { 0 } anomaly is partially resolved by using the photometry from the phase-II of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment ( OGLE ) rather than phase-I .
The need for V- or I-magnitude-based change in the bulge ( V - I ) _ { 0 } is one option to explain the remaining color discrepancy .
Such change may originate in a coefficient of selective extinction A _ { V } / E ( V - I ) smaller than typically assumed .
Application of the ( V - I ) _ { 0 } correction ( independent of its source ) doubles the slope of the absolute magnitude – metallicity relation for clump giants , so that M _ { I } ( RC ) = -0.23 + 0.19 { [ Fe / H ] } .
Consequently , the estimates of the clump distances to the LMC and SMC are affected .
Udalski ’ s ( 1998c ) distance modulus of \mu _ { LMC } = 18.18 \pm 0.06 increases to \mu _ { LMC } = 18.27 \pm 0.07 .
The distance modulus to the SMC increases by 0.12 to \mu _ { SMC } = 18.77 \pm 0.08 .
I argue that a more comprehensive assessment of the metallicity effect on M _ { I } ( RC ) is needed .

Subject Headings : distance scale — dust , extinction — Galaxy : center — Magellanic Clouds — stars : horizontal-branch