Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> Kathleen > wrote:
>
>
>>Dan Abel wrote:
>
>
>>I'll always stop to pick up change and add it to the handful in my
>>pocket. A few quarters will buy lunch for a student who might otherwise
>>be eating the free PB&J sandwich our district offers to those kids
>>without cash. It'll also buy protein snacks out of the vending machines
>>for kids at our alternative high school who haven't eaten since lunch
>>yesterday and can't think straight during the morning hours.
>
>
> School lunch at the local schools is now US$3.50. That's 14 quarters or
> 350 pennies. It used to be US$2.50 but that wasn't working. Most kids
> in the lunch program are subsidized. The district gets about US$1.00
> for each subsidized lunch. So PB&J it was, for US$2.50. They came
> frozen, in giant boxes. The kids and their parents weren't willing to
> pay US$2.50. So, they've upgraded the food considerably. But they just
> can't attract enough students at US$3.50. Everybody knows that kids
> need to have food in their stomachs to be able to learn, but the State
> of California cuts education funding every year, and the cuts have to
> come from somewhere.
>

Lunch at our high schools costs $1.95 - 8 quarters. I can dig twice
that out of the bottom of my purse on any given day.

Reduced cost (low income) lunch is $0.40. Their student ID#s are in the
computer but sometimes they don't even have the $0.40.

Daily offerings include:
Chicken Patty
Hamburger
Cheeseburger
Cheese Pizza
Pepperoni Pizza
Specialty Pizza
Chicken Tacos
Beef Tacos

The chicken tacos are a hell of a deal for the price. Chicken, beans,
rice, cheese, lettuce, jalapenos, salsa and sour cream piled into soft
tortillas (you get two), or over a boat of nacho chips, plus your choice
of a side item, a drink, and access to the "fixin's bar" stocked with
extra lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, etc.

The menu for Feb:
http://tinylink.com/?pqMSpAPFF8

So yeah, I pick up change when I see it, you betcha, and I find ways to
pass it on... "Hey, you need to make sure your back pack is zipped up.
I found this on the floor behind your desk."

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:10:34 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> James Silverton wrote:
>> jmcquown wrote on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 10:48:19 -0500:
>
>>> LOL! Too true. I do wear a watch
>>
>> A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine, don't
>> wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display the
>> time.
>
> A few years back I asked some guy what time it was (being
> a non-watch wearer). Imagine my bemused surprise when
> he whipped out his phone. I'm so behind the times.
>
>> It's interesting what people will or will not carry. Many people dump
>> any coins that they receive in change into a jar at night. They may
>> take them to a bank once in a while if there is a no-charge counting
>> machine available.
>
> Coins are very bulky, and if you're a guy with just pockets,
> how much change can you carry before they develop holes.
> It stinks but I pretty much have to pay to get rid of coins.
>
> nancy

like the star machines in grocery stores that charge, i think, ten percent
of the total. that sucks, doesn't it?

there was a bank near me that had a free counting machine. then they
limited free counting to account holders, so i sunk a few hundred bucks
there. but forcing you to go through hoops to change coins is nothing new.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:13:52 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:36:09 -0500, "Nancy Young"
> > wrote:
>
>>Becca wrote:
>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>>
>>>> James Silverton wrote:
>>
>>>>> A surprising number of people, including some relatives of mine,
>>>>> don't wear watches but they all carry cell phones that will display
>>>>> the time.
>>>>
>>>> A few years back I asked some guy what time it was (being
>>>> a non-watch wearer). Imagine my bemused surprise when he whipped out
>>>> his phone. I'm so behind the times.
>>>
>>> When I went to concerts as a teenager, the audience used cigarette
>>> lighters to wave in the air. Now, the audience uses cell phones.
>>
>>Ha hah, that's funny. And safer than all those stoned people
>>with open flames!
>
> These days it's mainly just drunks. Can't smoke at concerts here
> anymore.
>
> Lou

christ, you can't smoke *anywhere* here anymore.

your pal,
blake

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 14:22:01 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> jmcquown wrote:
>> "Tracy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>>
>>> Tracy
>>> (who is going to the bank today to get some coin wrappers - a lot of
>>> coin wrappers)
>
>> Yep, that's all you need to do. Sit and count and wrap coins while
>> you're watching television or listening to music. There's no reason
>> to pay for some machine to count coins for you
>
> Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.
>
> nancy

this is also true.

your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:
> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:10:34 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

>> Coins are very bulky, and if you're a guy with just pockets,
>> how much change can you carry before they develop holes.
>> It stinks but I pretty much have to pay to get rid of coins.

> like the star machines in grocery stores that charge, i think, ten
> percent of the total. that sucks, doesn't it?

One one hand, it does, but it's nice to just drop it off and
be done with it. I don't accumulate that much change.
In the grand scheme of things it's just not worth getting
riled about.

> there was a bank near me that had a free counting machine. then they
> limited free counting to account holders, so i sunk a few hundred
> bucks there.

There's a bank around here, too, it used to be Commerce Bank,
now it's TD. I could go over there and get a free checking
account. It's just more trouble than it's worth to save maybe
5 bucks.

I could just get a gift card, as other people mentioned, for free.
I wish one of the gift cards could be for the supermarket where
the machine is located! Now, that would be handy.

> but forcing you to go through hoops to change coins is
> nothing new.

I certainly know that. I have found that charging everything
solves the change problem nicely.

nancy

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:37:36 -0500, jmcquown wrote:

>>>>> Granted, every state
>>>>> (and bank) is bound to be different. I never heard of a bank not
>>>>> accepting rolled coins.
>>>>
>>>> For free. They do accept them, you just pay.
>>>
>>> We must have our wires crossed. My bank doesn't charge if I bring in
>>> rolled coins. And I don't use their machine to count them. I just
>>> count them, wrap them, take them in... no charge.
>>
>> You said you never heard of a bank not accepting rolled coins.
>> I'm saying banks around here will accept them, but a lot of them charge
>> for it.
>> Also, when I say around here, I don't just mean in my state.
>> It's not a state thing like the gas pumping thing.
>> nancy
>
> I've never had a bank charge to accept rolled coins. They will charge to
> run them through a change counter which then drops them into chutes which
> sort of rolls them for you. I just roll my own. (laughing) No charge.
>
> Jill

well, jill, if you've never heard of a bank that charges for rolled coins,
it's clear that nancy is lying. glad you straightened that out.

blake

On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:23:04 -0500, jmcquown wrote:

> "Stephanie" > wrote in message
> ...
>> jmcquown wrote:
>>> "Nancy Young" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> Stephanie wrote:
>>>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>> Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.
>>>>
>>>>> I would think it would still be "legal tender for all debts public
>>>>> and private." At least in the us. Our bank's policy wasa to have the
>>>>> account number of the depositer on the roll. If it failed to proof
>>>>> out when opened, the account was debitted or creditted accordingly.
>>>>> That never really happened. But that was the policy.
>>>>
>>>> That's the way it was back in the olden days when I spent
>>>> a some time as a bank teller. But banks can and do charge
>>>> to take coins, legally. Where I live it seems like the norm.
>>>>
>>>> nancy
>>>
>>>
>>> LOL Keep in mind, where you live you aren't allowed to pump your own
>>> gas, either! That's a strange concept to me. Granted, every state
>>> (and bank) is bound to be different. I never heard of a bank not
>>> accepting rolled coins.
>>> Jill
>>
>>
>> OR?
>>
>
> Or what? Nancy lives in New Jersey and you aren't allowed to pump your own
> gasoline there. I find that peculiar.
>
> Jill

you know, jill, maybe you could start a web site containing all the things
you find 'peculiar.' it might save everyone a lot of trouble.

blake

blake wrote:

> you know, jill, maybe you could start a web site containing all the
> things you find 'peculiar.' it might save everyone a lot of trouble.

She'd also have to list all the recipes she doesn't have, and that would
take a prohibitive amount of storage space.

Bob

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:23:04 -0500, jmcquown wrote:
>
>> "Stephanie" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> jmcquown wrote:
>>>> "Nancy Young" > wrote in message
>>>> ...
>>>>> Stephanie wrote:
>>>>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>> Not all banks will just take your wrapped coin for free.
>>>>>
>>>>>> I would think it would still be "legal tender for all debts public
>>>>>> and private." At least in the us. Our bank's policy wasa to have the
>>>>>> account number of the depositer on the roll. If it failed to proof
>>>>>> out when opened, the account was debitted or creditted accordingly.
>>>>>> That never really happened. But that was the policy.
>>>>>
>>>>> That's the way it was back in the olden days when I spent
>>>>> a some time as a bank teller. But banks can and do charge
>>>>> to take coins, legally. Where I live it seems like the norm.
>>>>>
>>>>> nancy
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> LOL Keep in mind, where you live you aren't allowed to pump your own
>>>> gas, either! That's a strange concept to me. Granted, every state
>>>> (and bank) is bound to be different. I never heard of a bank not
>>>> accepting rolled coins.
>>>> Jill
>>>
>>>
>>> OR?
>>>
>>
>> Or what? Nancy lives in New Jersey and you aren't allowed to pump your
>> own
>> gasoline there. I find that peculiar.
>>
>> Jill
>
> you know, jill, maybe you could start a web site containing all the things
> you find 'peculiar.' it might save everyone a lot of trouble.
>

Meanwhile, is that a restaurant in your pocket or are you just glad to see
me?

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 05:58:47 -0500, Stan Horwitz >
fired up random neurons and synapses to opine:

>Yup. Two or three of my colleagues ran out and bought a Blackberry
>Storm. After a few weeks, they returned it. A friend of mine bought one
>too. I tried it for about 20 minutes to play with the apps on it. The
>touch screen keyboard is horrible and the user experience is nowhere
>near as easy as with an iPhone 3G. My friend who bought a Storm returned
>it and he now has an iPhone 3G, which he raves about. For me though,
>like I said in a previous message, I won't get an iPhone 3G until
>Verizon is allowed to sell them on its network.

Well, I'm glad to see this, Stan. I researched the Blackberry Storm
before I finally bought the iPhone 3G. The only thing the Storm had
that was tempting me away from the iPhone was the keyboard "feel."
According to my research, the Storm keyboard was better b/c it had a
keyboard feel to it, whereas the iPhone is just flat no-touch qwerty.
I don't much like the keyboard even now - it is soooo hard to avoid
misspellings and my fingers aren't THAT fat - but everything else
works great. It didn't have voice recognition, which I really, really
wanted, but I found a $10 app that works just *perfectly* called Fonix
iSpeak. In fact, it works better than perfectly. It ran through my
contact list and figured out how each contact was pronounced and I
never even had to train it. Had very few mis-spoken contact hits, I
might add. The first time I used iSpeak, it went right to the desired
contact. Awesome. In now-hands-free California, voice recognition is
really helpful.

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "meatloaf" with "cox"

"James Silverton" > wrote in message
> Since I don't believe in littering, if I drop a penny, I will pick it up
> but, if I see a penny or even a nickel on the sidewalk, I'll probably just
> leave it there..

I'm not to proud to pick up a nickel.

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 14:16:26 -0500, "Stephanie" >
wrote:

>Oh sorry. Orengon (OR) is anothe rplace where you cannot pump your own gas.
>Or at least it used to be the casae.

I think Hawaii is that way too.


--
I never worry about diets. The only carrots that
interest me are the number of carats in a diamond.

Mae West

Terry Pulliam Burd said...

> I found a $10 app that works just *perfectly* called Fonix
> iSpeak. In fact, it works better than perfectly. It ran through my
> contact list and figured out how each contact was pronounced and I
> never even had to train it. Had very few mis-spoken contact hits, I
> might add. The first time I used iSpeak, it went right to the desired
> contact. Awesome. In now-hands-free California, voice recognition is
> really helpful.
>
> Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd


Terry,

iSpeak sounds interesting. I read about it on the app store, on sale (?)
for $3.00.

I've used the freebie "I Say" push button speech software which works with
more than just contacts but it is not perfection by any stretch since it
does have to fetch wirelessly from the internet.

A few questions about Fonix's iSpeak...

Is it listening all the time?

If so...
Will it constantly be trying to fetch contacts, constantly and
erroneously?
And how does it affect battery life?

Best,

Andy

P.S. For a fun/mindless waste of boredome-time, grab "Arcade Bowling Lite"
if you like the arcade bowling game (Skee-Ball) of rolling the wood balls
up the ramp-lane into the concentric score rings! The $1.99 version lets
you fuss with the music and sound levels independently and a couple other
minor features. --A

In article >, Andy > wrote:

> Stan Horwitz said...
>
> > For me though,
> > like I said in a previous message, I won't get an iPhone 3G until
> > Verizon is allowed to sell them on its network.
>
>
> Stan,
>
> iPhones have been unlockable for quite some time to run on Verizon,
> TMobile, Vonage, etc. After a few software/firmware hacks, toss in your
> Verizon phone's SIM card and you're good to go.

I don't think so. As far as I know, they will only work on Tmobile and
Sprint, not Verizon because Verizon doesn't support GSM phones. As lousy
as AT&T is, its far better then Tmobile, so I fail to see the advantage
of unlocking an iPhone to get on a lesser quality network with fewer
services, and Tmobile's cell phone plans are similar in cost to AT&T's.

> I think you sacrifice visual voice mail since that was an Apple/AT&T
> collaboration.

Yup, but you can't unlock the GSM compatibility. Before Verizon's
network can support the iPhone, it needs to support devices with GSM
technology. Maybe that's changed, but the last time I checked, it
didn't. Plus if you unlock your iPhone, you void the warranty, and Apple
can definitely tell if an iPhone has been unlocked.

Nancy Young wrote:
> Gloria P wrote:

>> The banks near us ot only don't have wrappers, they won't accept
>> wrapped coins from customers.
>
> That doesn't really surprise me. Accepting coin was a lot
> of trouble, but it would be nice if banks would do it as a
> service to their customers. Service, what a nice old
> fashioned word. Heh.

On the heels of this thread, what do I see when I open the
paper this morning but this bank fee fest:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6917758

nancy

On 2009-02-20, Nancy Young > wrote:


> On the heels of this thread, what do I see when I open the
> paper this morning but this bank fee fest:

Bankers exist in the same pool of slime as lawyers and politicians.

nb

Nancy Young wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>> Gloria P wrote:
>
>>> The banks near us ot only don't have wrappers, they won't accept
>>> wrapped coins from customers.
>>
>> That doesn't really surprise me. Accepting coin was a lot
>> of trouble, but it would be nice if banks would do it as a
>> service to their customers. Service, what a nice old
>> fashioned word. Heh.
>
> On the heels of this thread, what do I see when I open the
> paper this morning but this bank fee fest:
>
> http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6917758
>
> nancy


That's obscene. It makes you want to cash out everything and put it
under the mattress. The long-planned comfortable retirement we all
anticipated is going down the tubes.

glolria p

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2009-02-20, Nancy Young > wrote:
>
>
>> On the heels of this thread, what do I see when I open the
>> paper this morning but this bank fee fest:
>
> Bankers exist in the same pool of slime as lawyers and politicians.
>
So, which pool of slime did you emergef rom?

"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote in message
...
>
> "James Silverton" > wrote in message
>> Since I don't believe in littering, if I drop a penny, I will pick it up
>> but, if I see a penny or even a nickel on the sidewalk, I'll probably
>> just leave it there..
>
> I'm not to proud to pick up a nickel.
>
I only pick them up if the head is up, not the tail.

In article >,
Gloria P > wrote:

> Nancy Young wrote:

> > On the heels of this thread, what do I see when I open the
> > paper this morning but this bank fee fest:
> >
> > http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6917758

> That's obscene. It makes you want to cash out everything and put it
> under the mattress. The long-planned comfortable retirement we all
> anticipated is going down the tubes.

The government killed the mattress idea long ago. If I had put US$1200
under my mattress 40 years ago to buy a replacement car, which you could
do back then, I would find now that it wouldn't make a dent in the
amount needed to buy a new car. Inflation just kills that kind of
savings.

I'm hopeful my retirement will work out. I retired about three years
ago. I expect to start collecting Social Security in a few years. My
retirement has a 2% COLÅ (cost of living) cap, so as long as we don't
live too long, we should be OK.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Dan wrote on Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:11:48 -0800:

>> Nancy Young wrote:

> >> On the heels of this thread, what do I see when I open the
> >> paper this morning but this bank fee fest:
> >>
> >> http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=6917758

>> That's obscene. It makes you want to cash out everything and
>> put it under the mattress. The long-planned comfortable
>> retirement we all anticipated is going down the tubes.

> The government killed the mattress idea long ago. If I had
> put US$1200 under my mattress 40 years ago to buy a
>

Annual inflation was about 1% in 1948 and it has steadily worked its way
up to about 3%. It was 2% in 1968 and putting money in a mattress was
obviously a mistake even then. What it was last year, I don't know.
However, the Second Law of Thermodynamics applies, if you try to get
something, you get cheated on the deal. If you put your money in the
bank, by the time you pay tax on the interest and inflation has done
its worst, you will be lucky to break even.
--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

Andy wrote:
> Nancy Young said...
>
>
>> Becca wrote:
>>
>
>
>>> When I went to concerts as a teenager, the audience used cigarette
>>> lighters to wave in the air. Now, the audience uses cell phones.
>>>
>> Ha hah, that's funny. And safer than all those stoned people
>> with open flames!
>>
>> nancy
>>
>
>
> HA!!!
>
> Facing the cellphone screens at the band would hardly be as dramatic to the
> entire concert audience.
>
> I guess this is humor.
>
> I've never seen it done.
>
> Andy

It looks really strange. They dim the lights, then people open their
cell phones and wave them to and fro. I saw this at the Bette Midler
concert and at the Gipsy Kings. You have to wonder when this started.
I should ask my children, they know more than I do.... according to
them, anyway. lol

Becca

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:02:58 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:13:52 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:

>> These days it's mainly just drunks. Can't smoke at concerts here
>> anymore.
>>
>> Lou
>
>christ, you can't smoke *anywhere* here anymore.

I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.

Lou

"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
>
> I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
> Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
>
> Lou

Optional to ban would be better. Some of us would rather drink or gamble
with no smoke. I see no problem with a designated bar or casino if smokers
and the staff of them want to go there. Then I can make the choice to go or
not.

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 10:36:49 -0500, "Ed Pawlowski" >
wrote:

>
>"Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
>>
>> I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
>> Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
>>
>> Lou
>
>Optional to ban would be better. Some of us would rather drink or gamble
>with no smoke. I see no problem with a designated bar or casino if smokers
>and the staff of them want to go there. Then I can make the choice to go or
>not.

Yep. Having a choice would make far too much sense.

Lou

Lou Decruss > wrote in
:

>>Optional to ban would be better. Some of us would rather drink or
>>gamble with no smoke. I see no problem with a designated bar or
>>casino if smokers and the staff of them want to go there. Then I can
>>make the choice to go or not.
>
> Yep. Having a choice would make far too much sense.

Or applying the rules of equality to all, to paraphrase Anatole France: The
law in its concern for equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor from
sleeping under bridges, stealing bread and begging as well as smoking in
public places.

When I smoked I abided by bans and what not because if I needed to smoke,
that was my problem, not everybody else's. Ottawa was one of the first two
or three administrations in North America to implement a ban back in the
80's.

Now ALL public places (bars, restaurants, prisons, etc.) are under a
provincial no smoking ban as are drivers and passengers in a car carrying
minors. You can smoke in your own home or outside. The Conservative
Televisual Vortex reported on the car ban thusly:

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loca...ing_ticket_090
216/20090216/?hub=OttawaHome

--

Capitalism is the astounding belief that the most wickedest
of men will do the most wickedest of things for the greatest
good of everyone. - John Maynard Keynes

Michel wrote on Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:56:33 -0600:

> When I smoked I abided by bans and what not because if I
> needed to smoke, that was my problem, not everybody else's.
> Ottawa was one of the first two or three administrations in
> North America to implement a ban back in the 80's.

> Now ALL public places (bars, restaurants, prisons, etc.) are
> under a provincial no smoking ban as are drivers and
> passengers in a car carrying minors. You can smoke in your
> own home or outside. The Conservative Televisual Vortex
> reported on the car ban thusly:

I smoked a pipe and cigars and enjoyed it mostly. 20 years ago, I
accepted the evidence and stopped. It is about time that even growing
tobacco was banned tho' I suppose that might lead to making some farmers
rich like marijuana growers in Hawaii. I guess I should be careful,
Prohibition fostered the Mafia.

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not

In article >,
"Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:

> "Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
> >
> > I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
> > Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
> >
> > Lou
>
> Optional to ban would be better. Some of us would rather drink or gamble
> with no smoke. I see no problem with a designated bar or casino if smokers
> and the staff of them want to go there. Then I can make the choice to go or
> not.

It's been mentioned before, but it is not legal to smoke in most bars in
California. It's only optional for the owner if that owner is the sole
person who works in the bar. The ban on smoking is not for the
customers, because they can choose, it's for the employees. It's a
health hazard for them.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

blake murphy wrote:
> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:10:34 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

>> Coins are very bulky, and if you're a guy with just pockets,
>> how much change can you carry before they develop holes.
>> It stinks but I pretty much have to pay to get rid of coins.

> like the star machines in grocery stores that charge, i think, ten
> percent of the total. that sucks, doesn't it?

Well, I got a bee in my bonnet to see what kind of gift card
Coinstar would give me so I wouldn't have to pay the 8.9%
fee. Got an Amazon 'card'. Almost $50!

Now I just have to figure out what it's good for on Amazon,
it's not good for everything. And I found that they don't
carry the blue lettered Pyrex measuring cups I wanted. Bummer.

nancy

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:32:18 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:02:58 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:13:52 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:
>
>>> These days it's mainly just drunks. Can't smoke at concerts here
>>> anymore.
>>>
>>> Lou
>>
>>christ, you can't smoke *anywhere* here anymore.
>
> I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
> Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
>
> Lou

there was some talk in montgomery co (md) about banning smoking in
apartment buildings - not the common areas, the apartments themselves.
thank god it went nowhere.

your pal,
blake

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:52:42 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

> blake murphy wrote:
>> On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 12:10:34 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> Coins are very bulky, and if you're a guy with just pockets,
>>> how much change can you carry before they develop holes.
>>> It stinks but I pretty much have to pay to get rid of coins.
>
>> like the star machines in grocery stores that charge, i think, ten
>> percent of the total. that sucks, doesn't it?
>
> Well, I got a bee in my bonnet to see what kind of gift card
> Coinstar would give me so I wouldn't have to pay the 8.9%
> fee. Got an Amazon 'card'. Almost $50!
>
> Now I just have to figure out what it's good for on Amazon,
> it's not good for everything. And I found that they don't
> carry the blue lettered Pyrex measuring cups I wanted. Bummer.
>
> nancy

amazon has lots and lots of stuff beyond books and c.d.'s. (might not get
free shipping on the other stuff. i just got an external hard drive from
them with no shipping, though.) but i could probably spend fifty bucks on
c.d.'s in a couple of months.


your pal,
blake

blake murphy wrote:
> On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:52:42 -0500, Nancy Young wrote:

>> Well, I got a bee in my bonnet to see what kind of gift card
>> Coinstar would give me so I wouldn't have to pay the 8.9%
>> fee. Got an Amazon 'card'. Almost $50!
>>
>> Now I just have to figure out what it's good for on Amazon,
>> it's not good for everything. And I found that they don't
>> carry the blue lettered Pyrex measuring cups I wanted. Bummer.

> amazon has lots and lots of stuff beyond books and c.d.'s. (might
> not get free shipping on the other stuff. i just got an external
> hard drive from them with no shipping, though.) but i could probably
> spend fifty bucks on c.d.'s in a couple of months.

I can spend $50 without hardly trying unless you tell me I have
to spend that much. All of a sudden I can't find anything I want.
At any rate, the wording on the ticket issued by the machine says
Only valid on certain items. No word on how to find out just what
items. It was no trouble, I got my measuring cups (in red) and a
couple other items and I still have a few dollars left over.

nancy

On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:28:39 -0800, Dan Abel > wrote:

>In article >,
> "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
>
>> "Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
>> >
>> > I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
>> > Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
>> >
>> > Lou
>>
>> Optional to ban would be better. Some of us would rather drink or gamble
>> with no smoke. I see no problem with a designated bar or casino if smokers
>> and the staff of them want to go there. Then I can make the choice to go or
>> not.
>
>It's been mentioned before, but it is not legal to smoke in most bars in
>California. It's only optional for the owner if that owner is the sole
>person who works in the bar. The ban on smoking is not for the
>customers, because they can choose, it's for the employees. It's a
>health hazard for them.

It's not legal anywhere here either. Bar workers probably have a
higher percentage of smokers than other work environments. I know of
a few bars that went non-smoking before it was legal and they all went
back to smoking within a month or two. Obviously they have no choice
now. If an owner wants to allow smoking then he should be able to
allow it and I'm sure he/she would have no problem finding employees
willing to work there. Obviously that wouldn't work in bars in hotel
lobbies and such but a little 1000 sq ft. neighborhood bar with a pool
table in the back should be able to do what they want. Just my .02
but I know I'm not alone on my view.

Lou

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 21:32:45 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 09:32:18 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:02:58 GMT, blake murphy
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>On Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:13:52 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:
>>
>>>> These days it's mainly just drunks. Can't smoke at concerts here
>>>> anymore.
>>>>
>>>> Lou
>>>
>>>christ, you can't smoke *anywhere* here anymore.
>>
>> I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
>> Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
>>
>> Lou
>
>there was some talk in montgomery co (md) about banning smoking in
>apartment buildings - not the common areas, the apartments themselves.
>thank god it went nowhere.

I'm glad to see there's one thing you don't agree with her on.

Lou

On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:51:44 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:

> On Sat, 21 Feb 2009 11:28:39 -0800, Dan Abel > wrote:
>
>>In article >,
>> "Ed Pawlowski" > wrote:
>>
>>> "Lou Decruss" > wrote in message
>>> >
>>> > I can see bans in most areas but not bars and gambling boats. Joy
>>> > Behar was bitching about her neighbors smoke. What a moron.
>>> >
>>> > Lou
>>>
>>> Optional to ban would be better. Some of us would rather drink or gamble
>>> with no smoke. I see no problem with a designated bar or casino if smokers
>>> and the staff of them want to go there. Then I can make the choice to go or
>>> not.
>>
>>It's been mentioned before, but it is not legal to smoke in most bars in
>>California. It's only optional for the owner if that owner is the sole
>>person who works in the bar. The ban on smoking is not for the
>>customers, because they can choose, it's for the employees. It's a
>>health hazard for them.
>
> It's not legal anywhere here either. Bar workers probably have a
> higher percentage of smokers than other work environments. I know of
> a few bars that went non-smoking before it was legal and they all went
> back to smoking within a month or two. Obviously they have no choice
> now. If an owner wants to allow smoking then he should be able to
> allow it and I'm sure he/she would have no problem finding employees
> willing to work there. Obviously that wouldn't work in bars in hotel
> lobbies and such but a little 1000 sq ft. neighborhood bar with a pool
> table in the back should be able to do what they want. Just my .02
> but I know I'm not alone on my view.
>
> Lou

it sounds crass (<sanctimoniuous voice> who can put a value on human
life?</s.v.>), but it seems to me owners could offer better pay to work in
a smoking establishment.

your pal,
blake

In article >,
blake murphy > wrote:


> it sounds crass (<sanctimoniuous voice> who can put a value on human
> life?</s.v.>), but it seems to me owners could offer better pay to work in
> a smoking establishment.

Lawyers and courts are always putting a value on human life, usually
based on future earning potential. If you pay a little bit more, and
the employee agrees (what do you want to bet that they're a smoker,
also), then if they die from lung cancer, they won't sue you. They're
dead. Their wife and kids will sue, for huge amounts of money.

They will argue, truthfully, that they never agreed to accept the risk.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Mon, 23 Feb 2009 16:02:39 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Sun, 22 Feb 2009 19:51:44 -0600, Lou Decruss wrote:

>> It's not legal anywhere here either. Bar workers probably have a
>> higher percentage of smokers than other work environments. I know of
>> a few bars that went non-smoking before it was legal and they all went
>> back to smoking within a month or two. Obviously they have no choice
>> now. If an owner wants to allow smoking then he should be able to
>> allow it and I'm sure he/she would have no problem finding employees
>> willing to work there. Obviously that wouldn't work in bars in hotel
>> lobbies and such but a little 1000 sq ft. neighborhood bar with a pool
>> table in the back should be able to do what they want. Just my .02
>> but I know I'm not alone on my view.
>>
>> Lou
>
>it sounds crass (<sanctimoniuous voice> who can put a value on human
>life?</s.v.>), but it seems to me owners could offer better pay to work in
>a smoking establishment.

I know lots of folks who would love to work someplace they could smoke
for no stipend.

Lou

On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 05:29:49 -0600, Andy > fired up random
neurons and synapses to opine:

>A few questions about Fonix's iSpeak...
>
>Is it listening all the time?

No, you have to press the icon which appears just like the rest of the
icons on the iPhone. Takes a few seconds to gear up, but it rarely
ever makes a mistake. I ask it to "Call..." and it does, which is a
lot more than I can say for my old Blackberry.
>
>If so...
> Will it constantly be trying to fetch contacts, constantly and
>erroneously?

No, it will ask you if the contact it chose is correct and when you
synch your iPhone with your computer, it adds the new contacts.

> And how does it affect battery life?

Doesn't seem to affect it at all. Spending 10 mins. with the iPod
feature on drains it more than anything.

>P.S. For a fun/mindless waste of boredome-time, grab "Arcade Bowling Lite"
>if you like the arcade bowling game (Skee-Ball) of rolling the wood balls
>up the ramp-lane into the concentric score rings! The $1.99 version lets
>you fuss with the music and sound levels independently and a couple other
>minor features. --A

According to an article I read a day or two ago, the vast majority of
downloaded apps don't get used past the first 24 hours. I haven't
downloaded any apps other than the Fonix iSpeak - all I need is to
find another time waster to get addicted to!

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "meatloaf" with "cox"

On Fri, 20 Feb 2009 18:05:25 -0600, Becca > fired up
random neurons and synapses to opine:

>It looks really strange. They dim the lights, then people open their
>cell phones and wave them to and fro. I saw this at the Bette Midler
>concert and at the Gipsy Kings. You have to wonder when this started.
>I should ask my children, they know more than I do.... according to
>them, anyway. lol

The concert venues we attend all have (pretty lax) security
checkpoints. Do they not let Bic lighters through? And since most
people don't smoke anymore, no one carries lighters, but they do carry
cell phones.

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--

"Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch!"

-- W.C. Fields

To reply, replace "meatloaf" with "cox"

On Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:06:15 -0800, Terry Pulliam Burd
> wrote:

> And since most people don't smoke anymore,

When did al gore let mars post to the usenet?

Lou