RA1

I would love to see those out takes. Thanks for replying, even if it was 3+ months later. Best regards, RA1

If America is going to progress, we all need to get over being so sensitive about "race" and every thing else. I look forward to the day when being identified as being "gay" is no more than being male or female other seemingly harmless classifications. Both blacks and whites should strive to get over being regarded as anything but citizens. I talked with a black guy the other day who said he was a retired Air Force fireman. He said he was being asked back for employment after he retired but thought he would not do it. He said these young folks don't think like you and I do and I am not sure I can put up with it. He was talking about people not being people any more but folks with an agenda and not willing to work as hard as he had. Firemen do work hard, regardless of their gender, race, creed or color. I thought there was a lesson in what he had to say and I thanked him for it. Best regards, RA1

I don't know why we should be surprised at Snuggies and the like selling like hot cakes. After all, we bought hula hoops and pet rocks, once upon a time. Something sort of new and different + advertising seems to catch our collective eye. I have no problem with using a Snuggie or a Slanket, after all it has been cold and I like to be warm. Best regards, RA1

Lucky, Even before you mentioned something about finding a friend it was obvious that you were trolling for a sex offender. Unfortunately I think they are like alcoholics in that it takes a lot to get to the point of admission. However, I don't know any and, like you, I might be willing to help one if it would do any good. I have a 38 Special I could use as a last resort. Best regards, RA1

Without being judgmental about the use of marijuana or any drug here is a question either rhetorical or for any reader to answer. In this day and age of the EPA, California and many others being so concerned about air quality and what we breathe, how can any of those folks justify the use of any thing from grape vine to tobacco to heroin to marijuana being induced into one's lungs? Just introducing any such has to be harmful to one's general health with no drug effects. I would think any thinking or well looked after athlete would especially be aware of these problems. Best regards, RA1

I almost never eat fast food. But it is apparent that none of you has ever had Memphis BBQ which is pork shoulder, cooked over low heat and slowly for at least 1+ days and then PULLED apart and further sliced; then served on a toasted bun with local cole slaw and tomato based hot sauce. No vinegar like NC so called BBQ. We also do pork ribs which are much like the shoulder in preparation and served with either only the rub which was used to cook the ribs or the rub + hot sauce. Wonderful. I invite each and every one of you to try it before commenting or comparing it with other so called BBQ. You can order it from Corky's or most any of MANY local establishments featuring BBQ here in MEM. Bon appetite!! Best regards, RA1

Good example. With a lot of the national numbers it is very difficult to imagine what is going on. How much is a billion? A lot, to be sure. A trillion is a thousand times bigger, a number even more difficult to deal with. Those are dollars. The unemployed are people, just like you and me. Sad. Best regards, RA1

I agree, it depends. Good examples of how and why it might depend are listed above. If I go into a restaurant and the food comes out not as ordered, I complain to the wait person if I think they can fix it; or, I ask for a manager and explain the problem. I figure if they don't know, it is part of my duty as a customer to tell them. Then, when I come back, if it isn't fixed I figure they don't care and it is adios. Two times is generally my limit. I have been places where they gave me a free steak dinner but because I had already tried them twice I didn't even bother to cash it in. I do think it important to try to be a good customer. That includes timely, appropriate and factual criticism given in a matter of fact manner. Good criticism is called a bigger tip. If the service is bad I have no problem leaving a very modest tip. If the food is bad, I complain and leave a reasonable tip. If both are bad, I try to escape before they poison me or otherwise provide me with bodily harm. As far as escorts are concerned: As a client, I have never cancelled. I did send one home early during my early days. Now I just try to use my accumulated experience or take advantage of very good advice offered elsewhere and that is, go for an hour before you go for overnight or a week-end. It is far better to part on good company with a minimum of expense as opposed to ruining a good week-end, making an enemy or disliking a person and wasting much more money. But, as the saying goes, you pays your money and you takes your chances. Not good English but a fair statement of fact. Best regards, RA1

I agree if it breaks after a year or two, buying something new very likely would make sense. However, and I don't ordinarily recommend buying extended warranties, but for now I think the exception is HD TV's. I certainly would ask them to sweeten the deal with any extension of their ordinary warranty. If you consider purchasing a warranty there are sites easily Googled with relative inexpensvie ones compared to any offered at a store. Also, some credit cards, Chase comes to mind, offer to extend the manufacuturer's warranty by a year if you use their card to purchase the item. More than one way to skin a cat. Best regards, RA1

I am still a fan of the original ST TV series. It is so old it is coming back either as campy or certainly as a prime example of how things were done then. Some of the behind the scenes feats were interesting. For instance, the sliding doors that opened whenever someone approached? The set people were never able to make that happen with technology. They actually had two people just standing there to open the doors at the proper time. I am sure opening the doors could be done at some price but they had a budget. Best regards, RA1

Apparently he has screwed up hormones, whatever that might be. How do you make a hormone? Pinch his tits too hard. Very old joke. Best regards, RA1

Vegas has always been funny over certain holidays. Traditionally it has been virtually empty over Christmas but packed over New Year's Day. In between, very mixed. What you are describing is it currently is filled with tire kickers. They look but don't buy or don't buy much. It is amazing that so many businesses have a business plan so close to the edge. The Las Vegas hotels, the NY hotes, the airlines and many other businesses are screaming bloody murder when their business is down maybe only 5%; a little more in some cases. If my business was down 5% I would be thrilled it was doing that good in tough times. But I don't have a huge overhead. Thanks for the report. We will all stay tuned. Best regards, RA1

I really enjoyed reading about the bike ride. Maybe I should say trek. Ride seems not nearly enough. Best regards, RA1

As long as the answer to this next question is correct, you have nothing to worry about. The question? Who are you going to satisfy with that thing? The correct answer: me. Best regards, RA1

When the airlines, like United, declared bankruptcy they did indeed break the contract with retired employees. A personal friend of mine is getting about 25% of his promised and contracted for retirement. He is very angry with his past employer but neither he nor you or anyone else I know would refuse to ride on that airline citing safety reasons. In this case fairness and equity has been squashed into smithereens. But the airline could survive and it would not have without these concessions. The taxpayers lending money or giving money or any such to the airlines would not have perpetuated them. I am not saying I know what fair answer would have been. Bankruptcy was not fair but has some chance of working. A bailout would have had little if any chance of working. I believe this to be true for the bankers, insurance companies and Detroit also. So far all we have done is pour some feel good money on the problem. Best regards, RA1

Detroit technically is still far from perfect but they have improved a LOT in the past several years. I had a GM product up until about 6 months ago which I bought new. It had one problem during the warranty period and that was a battery issue. The Toyota that I owned before the GM product had at least 3 issues during the warranty period to include a power window not operating properly, a noise behind the instrument panel and, apparently as always, a battery issue. It seems likely and apparent to me that Detroit can produce viable products now but they have to get their costs under control. That very likely means bankruptcy as the UAW will not willingly give up what they call benefits but I call perks. Just like the executives must give up their perks. I am not picking on labor but I am picking on anyone and everyone who must contribute to get this ship arighted. Best regards, RA1

Please don't think I am throwing rocks at you but what you have done so far in this forum is vent. Naming the hotel might allow additional pressure from such as the rest of us. My personal theory about retail service is to either write or talk personally to the manager about the problem. As a matter of customer courtesy with any expectation of improving I think that is what is required. If there is no satisfactory response, they have had their one fair warning and I leave forever, mentioning the problem to whomever wishes to listen thereafter. I also understand that this hotel has advantages to your work and its' location is favorable for you. That kind of information naturally does factor into my evalutaion of any situation but at some point one must decide if those pluses are worth the minuses extant. Best regards, RA1

We can only hope! Best regards, RA1

I agree but people have to decide for themselves about personal matters such as this. Best regards, RA1

I think you are right about taking a pill and all is well. That cannot be all there is to it or any thing else. I call this the DuPont age, "better life through chemistry", which was an ad slogan of theirs some time back. A pill for every ill. Not to be contentuous but I hope you realize how thin a barrier condoms are also. Thanks, RA1

60 Minutes did run a tribute or, more accurately, a re-broadcast of two previous interviews with several words of mourning the loss. I think America is more of a Princess Di kind of place. Look at all the hoopla at the 10 year mark. Thanks, RA1

I agree with every thing you wrote. Thanks, RA1

I really enjoyed reading this. In fact, I laughed so hard it hurt at moments. Thanks, RA1

I think as lot of younger Americans have been allowed to grow up without valuing much of any thing. If they leave a coat at school, no problem, mom or dad will buy a new one. They all have phones, cars, etc. etc. without doing any thing to get them except be alive and an overly protected member of some family or other. To jump to a larger conclusion, in impoverished parts of the world, some times there is little regard for life itself, either their own or another's. The USA led the way to encourage everyone to regard others as equals, worthwhile, etc. Now, to draw the Roman Empire parallel, we seem to be on the way down and perhaps, out. I realize that I used very broad generalizations and skipped a whole bunch of intermediary details but anyone who wants to get it, will. Thanks, RA1

I have never been to South America but I still grieve for all the victims of this accident. I thank you for not jumping to conclusions about the state of air travel or the state of ATC in Brazil. They have problems but also enough problems without "others" jumping on their backs. We can never be totally safe from "modern" conveniences and that includes travel via the airlines. We have to accept that "some" risk is worth the reward, meaning short travel times. We do this every day, whether we acknowledge it or not, by driving to work or cutting the grass or riding a bike in traffic or using electricity or gas to make our lives easier and more convenient. We just don't think about the risks. Air travel has almost reached that level but it never will, just as their will always be home fires, etc. The point being we can never eliminate risk from our lives, especially if we are not willing to accept no convenience. I can tell you how to have absolutely no airline or aircraft accidents; ground and never fly again any aircraft. You don't agree or want that? Then you have to realize and accept the (limited) risks. Thanks, RA1