Big maintenance week here in the Cole household. Replacing the gutters, which have been here basically since the house was built, and had to rebuild the front porch roof and some soffits and fascias, and it sure is nice crossing the worry that my decrepit gutters were destroying the roof. It’s just nice having that taken care of and off the list of my mental phobias.
Also, my sink clogged on Sunday and shot water all out the bottom of the sink everywhere, and that had to be replaced. It was the old metal shit that had been here forever and was a constant problem, so the plumber came and fixed it and replaced it all in an hour. I called him last night, he was here today, and it cost, for an hour’s work and parts, 100 bucks. That is it. ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. Every time I call a plumber or electrician my mental judgment is to start at $500 and wait and see. But he was here in 24 hours, got it done, and I was so elated I gave him a twenty dollar tip. Not sure if that is customary, but it was worth it, felt good, and I know he will come back at the drop of the hat the next time.
Good service is so nice, particularly when most of the time these days when you think of the service industry, you think of poor, underpaid folks who basically hate their lives and their jobs and pretty much spend most of the time you interact with them scowling. Can you imagine how nice life would be if everyone was able to make a real living doing their respective trade, and good service was a norm, not an outlier?
Just Some Fuckhead
At least you didn’t party away all the Balloon Juice site redesign money this year!
:)
raven
Our graders just left after a day of cutting, filling and removing debris. We put the dumpster in our rental’s driveway so they got a good bit of dirt on the street. The guy had a problem with his blower and was going to go home and get another one. I told him not to sweat it, they are coming back in the morning. He wanted to make it right so I got my corded blower out and he used it. Good guy.
Gindy51
I know what you mean about service. We use a local family for everything but building structures. They do painting, carpets, laminate, windows, cabinets, counter tops and even blow in insulation. They are not cheap but the service is superior to anything a big box store can ever hope to provide, they live down my street and if I have any problems, they are right there ASAP. I am never afraid to leave them to do their work and I hardly ever even hear them, plus they clean up absolutely every thing so you’d never know they had made any mess.
They do not accept tips, but a nice bottle of wine is always appreciated. I urge all my friends to use local craftspeople and to make sure they tell everyone else if they get good or great service.
raven
@Gindy51: We had a new HVAC system put in our rental about 6 years ago. The first Christmas it went down and the installer came out Christmas day, got it running and charged us nothing. It’s what he should have done but I still really appreciated it.
Keith G
Kitchen sink plumbing is not a tough skill set – far from it. But it is your money…..and Tunch’s inheritance.
Shana
We used a plumber a few years ago for a problem with a toilet. Turns out there was an irreparable crack and the toilet had to be replaced. I was leery of the newish low flow ones since I’d heard horror stories from friends, but he explained stuff about them without being condescending, went out and got a new one right away and put it in. The whole process took about two and a half hours, reasonably priced. That guy’s at the top of our list anytime we have something we can’t deal with ourselves and we recommend him when asked.
TaMara (BHF)
It’s not customary, but my guys always come back to the office in a good mood when they get at tip, instead of scowled at for daring to charge for their services. So you should feel good about that.
Meanwhile I just got back from the dentist – horrible phobia about it, like many, but my dentist is just terrific and even though I dread it, he and his team always make it bearable.
Now my grille is the envy of the block.
Ivan X
It’s always splendid to receive great service, no matter where you are. It makes you feel good, and hopefully it makes the person providing the service feels good.
The flip side of it, speaking as a service provider, is that it sucks to work with people who don’t notice or appreciate that you’re doing all you can to provide them with great service (because that’s the only way you would have it). But most of our clients are delightful, and it’s a pleasure to work with them, and we hope they feel similarly towards us.
ranchandsyrup
It is sort of depressing that the expectation of good service got flipped to an expectation of crappy service.
NotMax
@Keith G
Mr. Cole and (gasp) tools?
Like pickles and butterscotch.
The horror, the horror.
David Hunt
Was just looking into repairing the carport for my home. I went to my boss to see if he had any ideas on who might be good to hire in town. We’re CPAs and he knows tons of people. He gave me the card of the fellow he uses with a good endorsement. Forgot the card in my office yesterday, so I haven’t talked to the guy yet. Thanks for the reminder Mr. Cole!
spencer neal
I include a $5 tip each month when I pay the newspaper bill. Those delivery guys really are low paid.
cathyx
One of the big shocks for me when I moved from the east coast to the west coast is how horrible service is here. Business’s have the attitude that they are doing you the favor. And keeping to store hours listed on the door? Pshh.
jl
Whew, I was worried about reading this,. but looks no Cole-sasters occurred.
“ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS”
Well, yeah it’s high but didn’t you get a little plumber’s crack peek show with that? it’s a full service mutli-attribute deal, kind of like this full service blog here.
Gex
So this thought just occurred to me, and sadly, IRL not many people would get it, or understand how devastating the idea was to me.
To get a real, visceral sense of how things are going in this country, JUDITH MILLER is concern trolling about an administration’s relationship with the press.
I fear the point of no return is far, far behind us.
ETA: Is it my eyes or is the text on my comments larger than the text on other people’s comments?
Violet
I don’t usually tip skilled tradespeople, but I make a point of tipping any food service or other type of place where I know they’re being paid shitty wages. At my local coffee place I always leave a buck in the tip jar even when I’m only getting a cup of coffee. I know those guys work hard.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Gex:
The asps all turn together.
Corner Stone
I actually have a pretty good plumber, dude was here one summer night during our drought and at one point he had to go to store to get something he didn’t have. Total of 4 hours, parts, time, service fee, etc, cost me less than $250.
On a Friday night.
Still don’t know how that happened. But the guy is great in our neighborhood. Big time service reputation and he backs it up.
Violet
@Gex: Heard her on BBC on my radio yesterday. She was shocked, shocked! at blah, blah, blah. I tuned her out so not sure what she was shocked about. Her voice is so whiny and annoying. But if she’s on the BBC as an expert in press and administration relationships, she’s definitely got some of her credibility back.
SarahT
Speaking of good service, I just want to say that I like the new site design – it works really well on my Blackberry. Thanks – that is all.
NotMax
@Gex
Only for your view, and only for the 5 minutes the editing clock is running.
raven
@Keith G: Glad you said that.
zombie rotten mcdonald
of course, a plumber may be feeling fortunate in that his job can’t be outsourced.
Violet
Speaking of the new site design, is there some reason that words inside the blockquote seem to have a larger font? Also, unsure of the benefit of one’s own comment having a larger font until edit window times out. Is that just so people can pick out their own posts in the list more easily?
Corner Stone
@zombie rotten mcdonald: Wait until they develop the Plumber Roomba.
Corner Stone
Apparently, this whole IRS scandal is Yutz’s fault.
That’s according to Tweety and Bob Schrum.
Walker
When I bought a house, the last thing the realtor did for me was give me a list of the very best contractors in the area: plumbing, electrical, heating, etc.
Having used them ever since I can attest that she earned her commission on that alone.
Kip the Wonder Rat
@zombie rotten mcdonald:
Hahahahaha!
Just turn out a sink trap on your 3-D printer, and wah-lah! no need for a plumber and his ‘spensive parts n’shit.
Corner Stone
Holy shit. Tweety just went off all solid and shit about racism against Obama. Damn.
Corner Stone
@Walker: Having now found a solid plumber and a good AC company, I think that would be the key to survival in a suburb setting.
If you’re in a big city you may be able to keep fucking people for years and years. In a neighborhood with a community forum/message board? Try that once or twice.
Corner Stone
I wonder why the president can never, ever hit their mark for speaking live?
Every president in my TV lifetime. What are they doing? Cleaning the ribs from their teeth?
“Ribs. I had ribs for lunch. That’s why I’m doing this.”
Haydnseek
@NotMax: Here, Tunch, hold my mustard wrench and watch this……
NotMax
@Violet
At one point not all that long ago, was working a 2nd job at a small 24-hour cafe just to pick up some mad money. Only one there from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Basically sandwiches, salads and coffee during those hours. Plus getting everything spiffed up (mopped, cleaned, sanitized, etc). for the breakfast crew.
Once, when I emptied the tip jar there was a $100 bill in it.
ranchandsyrup
Speaking of bad service, behold, Amy’s Baking Company Bakery Boutique and Bistro in Scottsdale, AZ.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthis/this-is-the-most-epic-brand-meltdown-on-facebook-ever
Violet
@NotMax: That’s awesome! I wish I had $100 extra I could use to tip someone like that.
pacem appellant
@cathyx: I’ve lived in the SF bay area my whole life and have never really had occasion to complain about the level or quality of service. It could be I’m aclimated to it, though. I do have the reverse reaction when I go to New York. Nobody is rude, per se, but it definitely feels like they’re doing me a favor when I buy a slice of pizza or check out of Macys.
I do notice a trend of restaurants not posting their hours, but then, there’s Yelp for that.
Corner Stone
“It’s inexcusable!!”
Violet
@ranchandsyrup: That really is some amazing stuff. The Amy woman sounds like she’s totally nuts. Apparently it’s the only restaurant Gordon Ramsey has ever just walked away from.
KXB
I’ve spent the past month having to get the input from 3 people (in an office of 4) on some promotional material that we will have printed. I was asked to shop around for the best deal – for a postcard. All the while, I have a regular print shop I like to use. I could go to a bigger operation, but I get almost no service from them. This guy is 2 miles from us, and stops by the office with samples before doing a print run. yet, I am expected to waste my time trying to save $10-$20. His prices reflect his smaller size – but he knows what I want even before I open my mouth. Tough to put a price on that.
Corner Stone
This is like ACORN or Shirley all over again.
beltane
@ranchandsyrup: Wow, that couple makes the soup Nazi sound positively charming.
ranchandsyrup
@Violet: I like that they claim FBI computer crimes unit is investigating and that they’re going to have a human baby. Could not stop laughing about this last night.
Corner Stone
They will never, ever give a fucking shit what you are saying now. They will not stop.
The public can’t take time to understand what this is about, yet they just heard there’s a real problem with government. From the president.
kdaug
Had a guy come out to take down a dead tree and grind the stump. There was a tree-planting program in town, and the city had donated a free sapling to replace it. He got here, took a look at it, and I asked how much?
“$300.00”.
Looked like a decent guy, and I was a little broke at the time, so I said, “How about $225?”.
“Done”.
He was there first thing the next morning. When the noise had quieted down I went out to take a look. He’d taken down the old tree, ground the stump, dug a new hole, and planted the new tree for me.
I tipped him $40.
LT
I’d like to make a site comment. I know this isn’t a thread for that, and I know this particular comment has been made, and addressed, but it hasn’t remedied, IMHO.
I’m old. Jesus, man. I have to lean in to fucking read the tiny lettered comments.
Blerg. Me no happy. And no, I dont’ want to increase the size of the text on my computer. It’ll make everything else too big.
Last I’ll speak of it.
Violet
@KXB: Count up the hours you are spending on this task that you are not spending on another task and put it as part of the potential new print shop’s cost. Also estimate how many times you’ll have to contact the other print shop(s) to follow up, make corrections, etc., because that sort of thing is a real cost to the company, whether they know it or not.
Any time you spend on that stuff is time you don’t spend on the rest of your work. Make sure to include the time-cost for every correction. Usual print shop guy gets it done on time and right and he even comes to you, saving you time and money. New print shop does not provide that service–figure out how much that service is worth to the company. Put it down on your cost comparison.
Service is worth something. Figuring out how to explain that to your boss the challenge.
kwAwk
As long as the topic is maintenance. Could I as Kim Jung Un to do me a solid and fix the blogroll link to Greg Sargeant?
Much obliged.
NotMax
@LT
Desktop/laptop or tablet?
Windows or Mac or something else?
Which browser? (Firefox, Chrome, Explorer, Opera, etc.)
Violet
@NotMax: Cracked me up that IE wasn’t even in the four possible browsers you listed. IE is such a loser browser, isn’t it?
danimal
If I were ever to become a billionaire, I would randomly give $100 tips to hard-working service employees.
Did you hear that, universe? I’m certainly hoping the universe tests me on this proposition.
danimal
@kwAwk: I second this motion.
Hal
@Gex:
This is why I’m really hating the media right now. Who cares what Cheney, Rumsfeld or Judith Miller think about any of this? Ron Fornier, the former AP Washington bureau chief was shocked too. This is the guy who told Rove to keep up the good fight, while criticizing Dem candidates in 2008.
The reaction from the MSM seems so self masturbatory. The Press has every right to investigate the Government, but the Government has every right to investigate leaks. I’m not sure if the Justice Department went too far or not, but it seems using the media to determine this is like asking a person on trial to decide whether they are guilty or innocent.
Watching Alex Wagner today one of her guests made the comment that reporters were obligated to feel outraged, and that’s the sense I’m getting watching folks like Fineman, Bruni, Maddow et al proclaim themselves under attach, and how unprecedented this move by the Admin was. Whatever the case, I’m sure we’ll spend months hearing how shocked conservatives are on this attack on the lame stream, um, I mean, wonderful press.
cathyx
@pacem appellant: It’s probably more a Pacific Northwest thing. People are so laid back that store hours are whenever they feel like getting to the store to open it. When I lived back east, everyone I knew had at least 2 jobs, including myself. Here, no one would dream of working that much. In some respects, it was a refreshing change, but it was maddening also when I had a tree come down in my back yard and called several tree companies to give me an estimate to take it all the way down and cut it up, and only one company out of four even bothered to return my call, let alone actually give me an estimate. I had to call a few more times to get the others to even talk to them. Needless to say the first guy got the job.
joel hanes
@LT:
[CTRL] +
is your friend.
Villago Delenda Est
The dignity of work is despised by the vermin of the 1%.
KXB
@Violet:
I have tried explaining it, as politely as I can. Indeed, I’ve pointed out that no print shop can give a quote until we have a file ready for them to use. We did not finalize the file until this week. When you spend most of the time on design, that does not leave me time to shop around, and have them ready by the event date.
LT
@NotMax: MacBookPro. Mountain Lion. I’m hooked up to a larger monitor. Safari.
MikeJ
@cathyx:
Everyone in every store seems to want to chitchat. I just want my burrito, ya know? I don’t hold any antipathy towards my cashier or the nice lady at Macy’s helping with the kitchen stuff, I just want to get my stuff and leave.
When I first moved here from DC, I met somebody from MN and we were both complaining about service in Seattle. I was going on about how they would not shut the fuck up and take my money, he was complaining that everybody was too brusque and abrupt.
MomSense
Ctrl+ worked like a charm. Went from Lilliputian to readable!
LT
@joel hanes: I guess I’ll just go with that. I know it seems lazy – but why should I have to do this on this one site? It’s just dumb. It’s like the thing where we have to put two underscores to make paragraph breaks – why in the name of fuck would a website want to be the only website in existence that makes their readers do that? I find that absoutely mental. Why not make us start a fire and sacrifice ten virgins, too?
Neal
It really is. I had a fantastic experience this afternoon setting up water for the house my wife and I are closing on tomorrow. We’re moving into the unincorporated county after living in the city limits for the last 7 years so I was setting up a new account with Hillsborough County Water. The rep I spoke to was so unbelievably pleasant and helpful. Makes all the difference in the world. I made sure to email the county and leave a compliment for him. I’m sure they don’t get enough of those.
Trollhattan
@MikeJ:
When I return to Seattle from Calif. and a driver stops to let me cross the street, I think it’s a trick to run me over.
MomSense
@MomSense:
Ok, spoke too soon. Now the comments are readable but everything else is giant sized. Constant adjustment required.
Jager
I took my grandsons out to dinner last night (10 and 14) we planned to meet Mrs J at a local Mex place. Tuesday night, very slow. The shithead who manges the place says, “How many for dinner?” I tell him 4 and we’d like to eat on the patio. He says, “That will be a 10 minute wait.” I said Whaaat? there is no one here, we’ll just wait on the patio. He said “No, I only have one server and if you were sitting out there it would look bad for the restaurant.” If the boys hadn’t been with me, I would of told him to fuck himself. We left, the ten year old texted Mrs J and we met at a Thai place.I spent a $100. with tip.
kdaug
@Violet: IE is the #1 browser used for getting a better browser.
PeakVT
@LT: If you have Stylish installed, this style will increase the font size.
JGabriel
John Cole @ Top:
No, not really. It’s so completely outside my realm of experience that I find it easier to imagine four dimensional space or the surface geography of alien planets.
It sounds like it would be a nice world to live in though. Such a shame that our oligarchical overlords will fight tooth and nail against it, rather than pay a living wage.
rikyrah
a plumber charging just a hundred bucks?
wow.
cckids
@Violet: Yep. ONCE in my life I had the chance to do something like that. Christmastime, 2009, I had been at a cas1no with friends & won $400 playing video p0ker (something that never,never happens). Was leaving, and a homeless guy I’d noticed coming in was distraught, he’d left his sleeping bag & other stuff to go in & use the bathroom & it was stolen. So I gave him $100 & a nice sleeping bag I’d just picked up from the cleaners & still had in the car. Though money for us was tight, I figured this was found $$ and we’d be ok without it. Great feeling.
rikyrah
Charges dropped against Florida teen over amateur science experiment :
Wilmot’s arrest became a national story, as members of the press and the scientific community insisted that Wilmot was the victim of a massive overreaction from law enforcement. A crowdfunded legal defense fund netted over $8,000 to cover Wilmot’s potential legal fees, and a Change.org petition to get the charges dropped received nearly 200,000 signatures.
“Even though I don’t have the privilege of knowing Kiera, I believe
we all have the responsibility to stand up with one another whenever there is injustice and felt I had to do whatever I could to make sure the unjust felony charges were dropped,” said Maggie Gilman, the creator of the petition, in a statement circulated by Change.org. “I’m very thankful to the 195,000 people who stood with Kiera and signed the petition on Change.org!”
Wilmot has already served a ten-day suspension, and is now attending another high school
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/05/15/charges-dropped-against-florida-teen-over-amateur-science-experiment/
eemom
Our house is surrounded by a lot of trees and therefore a little darker inside than I would like, so today we had these two things called “Solatubes” installed under the roof. Now it’s bright upstairs, but the way the things filter the sunlight makes it look exactly like fluourescent — which I hate — so I’m freaking out. However, the husband thinks he might be able to fix it by installing a sheet of plastic above the glass.
The service was good, anyway.
jl
WH releases “Benghazi!” emails
Administration Officials Downplay CIA-State Department Squabbling In Benghazi Emails
TPM
“The emails vindicate the administration’s claim that White House officials did not partake in defensive wrangling over the framing or content of the talking points. But they do confirm that the State Department and CIA were at odds, at least for a time, over how comprehensive the talking points should be.”
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/05/administration-officials-downplay-cia-state-department-squabbling-in-benghazi-emails.php
But I think the emails raise as many questions as they answer! For example
“…Regardless, thx for the great work.”
‘thnx’? What is with the coded language? What is REALLY in those emails,.huh?
BillinGlendaleCA
Hey the formatting buttons are back on IE10, thanks Mistermix/Cole.
pseudonymous in nc
We just had the roof re-done, with the aid of a (small) contribution from the insurance company for wind damage. Went with a small local firm (the owner’s son is one of the crew) who gave a decent estimate that probably undercut themselves to some degree, and had good recommendations.
I gave a healthy tip at the end. I come from a family of tradespeople, and I respect that kind of work even if I don’t do it myself.
gelfling545
I’ve got plumbing work to be done – a slow leak under the toilet that rotted the floor. I’ve got a guy lined up to do the plumbing but he tells me the floor must be done first which is out of his skill set. Unfortunately the floor issue is too small a job so nobody wants to do it or so I’ve been told by 4 places now so I can’t even find someone willing to overcharge me to do it.
cckids
Help, mod has my comment becuz I referred to my home town’s major industry. dammit.
cckids
@gelfling545: Not sure where you live, but here, the small local papers, or sometimes Craigslist, have ads for small handymen, usually they are retired & excellent at their work,just wanting some extra cash & to keep busy. Might be worth a look.
LT
@PeakVT: I don’t know what Stylish is. I will look into it.
MikeJ
@cckids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGc3ZEBmzEQ
?
Odie Hugh Manatee
I get tips regularly from customers who are appreciative of my quick computer repairs and low prices. I’ll never get rich but I do enjoy that people appreciate my work enough to reward me above what I charge. Today I had to do an unusual thing and tell a newer customer to find another computer tech because I can’t deal with customers who disregard my advice and then complain when things don’t work the way they wanted. I’m a busy person and I don’t have the time to hold the hand of people who ask my advice, ignore it and then complain to me when shit hits the fan. She’s a conservative/teapartier and about as intelligent as a brick. I have lots of conservative customers but they seem to have no problem acting on the advice they asked for. Of all of the customers I have done this with, only one came back to me, apologized for wasting my time in the past and asked for another chance.
They have been a good customer for over ten years now and they tip me regularly. :)
raven
@gelfling545: What kind of floor? Cut the rotten part out and cut a piece of plywood that is the same dimension with a hole in to match the drain pipe.
Yatsuno
So my boss just fell on his sword and quit. I get the feeling it’s gonna get worse before it get better.
cckids
@MikeJ: Ha! Not my problem, I assure you.
Baud
@Yatsuno:
Did you see the IG’s recommendations that they are going to implement? Anything offensive?
MikeJ
@cckids: Just trying to think of industries that get you marked as spam, and didn’t know if you lived in Atlantic City.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Yatsuno:
Why do you have swords at work? Is this because DHS bought all the ammo?
raven
Has anyone here been watching Lawrence O’Donnell the last two nights? When Obama talks about clarifying the rules on these organizations I think he’s addressing Lawrence”s point about the law :
http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/05/13/odonnell-the-real-irs-scandal-happened-in-1959/
poptaracus
Always tip. 20 bucks. Makes the tipee feel good to be appreciated. Bread upon the waters, one day it might float back to you
magurakurin
@joel hanes:
Not when it pushes the text to the side of the screen. I have a 19 inch monitor and increasing the font just once pushes the text out of view. I read hundreds of web pages a day. I increase the font on a tiny fraction of them and of those none push the text out of view.
The blog will be what it is. I’ll read it either way, maybe. But people are bringing up a very legitimate concern and the constant condescending remark about the need to use a tool (control +) that basically everyone on the planet is already aware of is unhelpful.
We’ve all increased the fonts on our browsers. We still have issues. If no one wants to address, fine, say so. But please stop telling people to do something that they did the very first second they looked at the new blog page.
Roger Moore
@MikeJ:
Footwear (shoеs) is also apparently on the spam list.
LT
@magurakurin: Hear hear.
cckids
@MikeJ: No, Vegas, and yes, like an idiot, I used both the “P” word and the “C” word. Yikes.
Ulthaviolet Thunder
I worked in high end retail for a while. Many people appreciate great service. But plenty will still treat you like hell just to show that they’re better than you. You know who’s great to work with? Most celebrities, oddly. Almost unanimously patient and thoughtful people.
Ultraviolet Thunder
Having trouble commenting.
I blame Obama.
NotMax
@LT
Should be able to use Apple key and + to up the font size, but why not use the toolbar buttons Safari provides instead?
Try this and see if it helps you.
If the text size increase/text size decrease buttons are already on your toolbar (small A and large A, between the Back/Forward and the Refresh buttons) , use the increase button to up the font size.
If the text size increase/text size decrease buttons are not already on your toolbar, click on View and enable Text Size from the dropdown menu. Now the buttons (small A and large A) will show in the toolbar, and you can just click on them to increase or decrease fonts size at will.
NotMax
@magurakurin
Curious if the story about the comments made by the mayor of Osaka about WWII ‘comfort women’ has legs and what reaction in Japan has been.
Bobby D
It IS nice, isn’t it? I got excellent service from a HVAC tech yesterday…which was nice since it was like 97 degrees and my AC wasn’t cooling.
MikeJ
@NotMax: The Germans had a name that stuck better.
NotMax
@MikeJ
Neglected to include a link about mayor Toru Hashimoto’s indefensible comments.
magurakurin
@NotMax: I’m running out the door now, but it is a big stink here. Almost daily coverage and there are a lot of women who are really pissed. He’s got a reputation for saying off the cuff stuff and he recently drew fire by firing all the city workers who had any kind of tatoo. He’s pretty much a right wing dickhead that uses populism for appeal. I kind of think his day in the sun is probably over with this latest remark.
MikeJ
@NotMax: Yes, I know about them. He should be flogged. The Joy Division was a name used by the Germans for Jewish women used as sex slaves. Ian et al used it for a great band with a tasteless name.
LT
@NotMax: I had to go to “Customize Toolbar” in the view menu – and got rid of those assinine default ones – I did not know about this stuff! (Or I probably did ages ago and forgot.)
That is better – still would rather not have to, but oh wells.
Thank you!
Roger Moore
@NotMax: @magurakurin:
Was he trying to stir up a shitstorm with China, or is he just such a lunk that he didn’t consider the international consequences of his statement?
Yatsuno
@Just Some Fuckhead: You can have my katana when you pry it from my cold, dead, paws.
Suffern ACE
@Yatsuno: after seppuku, katanas are a mess so no thank you.
lojasmo
I had a leaking back door, and bought a door from HD and got an estimate for their contracter to replace it. The estimate was $700 to replace a $800 door.
My neighbor across the street is a freelance carpenter/handyman. He put the thing in (I ran for supplies and did cleanup)
He charged me $150. I told him i Like round numbers and gave him $200
beautiful job.
BruceFromOhio
Always tip 20%. The world is a better place for it.