Casual Observer

Yes, props to Tila Nguyen - a softcore porn, import tuner, & internet model.

I've become so paranoid about body-fluid stained sheets, covers & pillow/pillow cases, that I request all new linens be brought to my room once I check in, and then I have the maids leave all the linens at the corner of the bed every morning I'm there so I can inspect them before I change the sheets.

All you have to do is find that "stain" once in a hotel - a nice hotel at that - to ruin you permantantly.

Why is that?

Here's a question -- how many of you have ever caught a waiter/waitress giving themselves an extra tip from your credit card?  I have twice.  I tend to not throw away receipts until I match them up with my bank statement, and twice at Bennigans (Southwest Freeway) caught different members of the wait staff inflating their tips by a few dollars.

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Its never been done on my check card. Maybe the logic is that people don't check their credit card statements with their receipts.

Did you press charges?

Nope. Nothing for take-out. All they're doing is reading your name off the ticket and ringing you up.

SHOCKING REPORT - THAT'S THEIR JOB!

No, you are just on the Internet too much!

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Damn it! As usual another sweet project canned here in H-town.

Are you worried that they will, or hoping that they will?

Is it for sale?

For the bonus round - how many pieces of flair is the minimum?

If all the waitresses look like Jennifer Anniston - then yes, Chotchskie's it it.

Silly Rabbit - you can't use the Astrodome for Baseball.

Just Kidding.. But seriously, I would think the Dome would be used for the Olympics, yes?

There ya go! Its hard to see from this angle, but there are two smaller golden gold-balls on eitherside, along with wide staircases on either side that go all the way to the top.

So.. what in the hell is this place? I drove by about a month ago and it looked nearly abandoned.

Like it or not, the Chicago downtown shots are nice.

1920's Neo-Victorian

I know what you're talking about. Its here: Gold Golf-ball Looking Mosque

I've meant to take pictures and post.. but I'm too lazy. You can use Google Earth and see it.

Brazoria county is a dry county?

I go to a restuarant for one of two reasons - atmosphere or the food.

If I go for the food, I don't care about the service as long as its at least mediocre. For the minimum, I always tip 15-20%. If I get great service at a place I'm at for the food, then that's just extra for the server.

If I go somewhere for the atmosphere, then I'm likely paying double what the food is worth, so I want damn good, catered service for my meal. Its at restaurants like these that I'm more critical of the service.

Either way, good service = good tip. Its not that hard of an equation. If the service sucks, I immediately bring it up with the manager. I ask them bluntly why the service is lacking.

I have left tips as large as the meal, even though the food sucked - ONLY because our server was kind enough to talk to us (myself and my wife) throughout the meal, explain where our food was, make up for it with extra wine - free desert - or discount on the check.

As for places like Starbucks - oh hell no. Oh, any of you that eat in Chinatown (Bellaire or Downtown) and leave a normal tip - that's usual 5-6 times what other Asians leave. The standard tip at a Vietnamese noodle house is 1 dollar per patron.

I get mad when soccer moms take the HOV just because little jimmy is in a car seat in the back. I don't think they should be allowed - only 2 working passengers.

it's a dog...

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its the truth..

Beltway 8 South to US59 North - you can see Greenspoint!

and..

I10 East to Beltway North - you can see the Gulf!

The only problem I see with this is that people have a tendency to come to a complete stop when making a right turn BOTH on protect green lights and right turns into dedicated right-turn lanes.

morons..

Otherwise, this and the Michigan Left seem like they could work here, better than our current system of "bob and weave" at unprotected left turns green lights.

"I don't think this is a real project. It's a total charade." -Donald Trump, New York Times, July 25, 2005.

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I might have to go with Trump on this one making him 3 for 4 in my book:

1. He married a supermodel.

2. He wants to rebuild the ORIGINAL WTC.

3. He thinks this is bogus.

4. Unfortunately, he still hasn't fixed the hair!

But you have that grasshopper/ant metaphor backwards. After all, aren't cities often compared to ant hills?

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No, I had it right - the working class (the ant) is found in the suburbs. The non-working class (the grasshopper) is found in the center of any city. College students, retirees, & young white collar types is mostly what you find in the center of the city. The suburbs is where you find most of your blue collar working class who still sweat everyday and use their hands to fix things - not the local mechanic.

Just keep telling yourself that help will come to you, and that you can eat pigeons & rats until help arrives!

And think of an extended interruption of food supplies; we'll have the ducks at Hermann Park to feast on, and pigeons, squirrels - even rats. For the knowlegeable, there's lots of edible plants to be found in vacant lots.

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..Ducks, pigeons and foliage? RATS?!?

How desperate.