On Dec 10, 1:42Â*pm, Tommy Joe > wrote:
> On Dec 10, 1:16Â*pm, dsi1 > wrote:
>
> > I'd like to use lingo like "on your 6" but my wife doesn't speak
> > macho. When she worked at Jack in the Box while going to college,
> > "cheese at the window" meant a good looking guy at the drive-thru.
>
> Â* Â* Â*I rarely use the clock lingo; not sure I ever have - but I've
> heard it from others and it makes sense. Â*Now drifting slightly off
> topic (if there ever was one), I remember Jack in the Box when I lived
> in L.A. Â*.. Â* It was one of my least favorite fast food joints.
> Everyone thought it sucked. Â*A bunch of people got sick one time, up
> in the northwest I think, and soon the Jack in the Boxes closed down.
> But a few years later they opened as "new and improved" - and funny
> thing is, they really were improved. Â*That rarely happens. Â*Usually
> it's just a term businesses use. Â*But Jack in the Box in my opinion
> really did improve after they shut down and reopened. Â*I remember the
> one in Hollywood Ca that I would go to now and then. Â*There was a guy
> from somewhere in the middle east who seemed to always be there. Â*I
> could tell he was bright, probably also working his way through
> college. Â*He always had a smile on his face, very easy going - looked
> like nothing bothered him. Â*He was so happy and friendly that I
> wondered if one day he might explode and kill a bunch of people. Â*I
> had trouble understanding how someone could hold a job of any kind and
> smile all through the day. Â*I still do.
>
> TJ

The guy that cleans our condo's common area is overly friendly like
that. My wife and I think he's a serial killer. 🔫
We have a JIB in our little burg that does OK. If I had a million
bucks, I'd open one of those burger places that serves just burgers
and fries and that's all, with only a drive thru window. Come to think
of it, all restaurants should be like that. Maybe any store that sell
anything should operate that way. �

On Dec 10, 6:57*pm, Kalmia > wrote:
>
> I guess I will treasure my loose-leaf, tabbed, extra blank pages in
> the back, address book. *I think I bought it about 15 - 20 years ago.
> I didn't realize those were now dinosaurs. *I have never used ink in
> it *and am more determined than ever to keep it going. *I prob. have
> 200 entries in it - and I'll be damned if I ever wish to try to put
> all of it into any cellphone. *It goes with me on trips and if I ever
> need to evacuate, it's going. *You may have to buy a plain notebook
> and make your own.
>
> As to graduation to 'harder stuff' *- uh-uh. *In fact we downsized
> from a pay per month cell (some months we never made one call) to one
> of those deals - pay 100 bucks for a year, 25 cents a minute.
> Rollover feature when you re-up for the next hundred. * I don't think
> we've used 20 dollars worth of it since July.
>
> I hate it when a friend calls to gab from a cell - bad transmission
> and echo etc.


It's funny, even though I agree that cellphone sound is inferior,
sometimes I'll be talking with someone who is on a cellphone and I
won't even know it. Depends on where they are, I guess.

But I'm more interested in discussing the loose-leaf, tabbed,
address and phone book. I bought a cheap day planner, no tabs, at the
dollar store. I don't like it much, but I sat down and copied all the
phone numbers I deem still useable to the new book. The old one was
great - black with tabs - and it like yours was at least 25 years
old. There was room for more stuff, but I just got tired of looking
at the scribbling. I made the mistake a few times of putting
temporary numbers in there.

But now the funny part. As I was copying these numbers and some
addresses from the old tabbed book to the new dollar store one, I
found it to be quite a chore, which I knew it would be even before I
started. But some of the numbers were no longer valid, so I didn't
have to copy those to the new book. Then I started coming across some
people who have since died, and it filled my heart with joy as with
each new dead person's number I cried, "Alright, don't have to copy
that one!" I'm serious. A lot of people I know have died in 25
years. The downside: They're dead. The upside: No need to copy
their now useless phone numbers into my new dollar store address book.

TJ

On Dec 10, 6:57*pm, Kalmia > wrote:

> I guess I will treasure my loose-leaf, tabbed, extra blank pages in
> the back, address book. *I think I bought it about 15 - 20 years ago.
> I didn't realize those were now dinosaurs. *I have never used ink in
> it *and am more determined than ever to keep it going. *I prob. have
> 200 entries in it - and I'll be damned if I ever wish to try to put
> all of it into any cellphone. *It goes with me on trips and if I ever
> need to evacuate, it's going. *You may have to buy a plain notebook
> and make your own.
>
> As to graduation to 'harder stuff' *- uh-uh. *In fact we downsized
> from a pay per month cell (some months we never made one call) to one
> of those deals - pay 100 bucks for a year, 25 cents a minute.
> Rollover feature when you re-up for the next hundred. * I don't think
> we've used 20 dollars worth of it since July.
>
> I hate it when a friend calls to gab from a cell - bad transmission
> and echo etc.



Whoops, forgot to mention, about the address book. Funny, I never
even thought of putting the numbers down in pencil rather than ink.
It never even crossed my mind. If I ever find a new and decent sized
tabbed phone and address book I will probably still use ink but will
not put anyone's number in there unless I determine them to be a more
permanent fixture than say some company you're only going to call once
and never again. I do crossword puzzles in ink too. A habit I
guess. So I probably won't turn to the pencil if I ever find a new
address book. But I will say that it's a damned good idea on your
part and it's weird that it never even crossed my mind to do the same.

TJ

On Dec 10, 8:03*pm, John Kuthe > wrote:

> What exactly is it that makes a person suddenly prioritize answering
> the damn phone as THE most important thing to do, just because it
> rings? Especially when they are actively doing something else,
> especially if that thing is conversing with people in real life? All
> the phone ringing means is that someone not in the room with you
> presently suddenly had the desire to dial your phone number. It's not
> like if you do not answer it immediately that they will not ever call
> you back. In fact I've noticed with these bloody cell phones people
> who call, if they do not get an answer the first time will usually
> call back two or three times in rapid succession!! WTF??!! Just
> because YOU had the desire to talk to me, *I* should drop everything
> I'm doing and answer you?
>
> I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
> NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.


I have an answering machine for my landline and I use it to screen
calls. But I'm not being snobbish or exclusive, I just don't want to
answer it and be surprised by some tele-marketer or other annoying
person. When I'm in the cab I use the cellphone. I'm proud of the
way I do it even if I don't make a lot of money, especially lately.
Last night I made minus $26. I came up short. Bad out there.

But anyway, when I'm in the cab and the phone rings, I do not
look at the caller ID, ever. I am proud of that. I answer it the way
it should be answered by an actual cab company. I do not play
favorites. If the next call in is somebody way across town and it's
just a $4 ride, so be it.

Now, as for your question as to what would make a person behave
so rudely, I can speak only of my brother. He is one who for years
has bragged that he is not a 9 to 5 slave, when in reality he's a 24/7
slave. He uses his cellphone for work as well as pleasure or home
use. He's afraid if he misses one call it could spell doom for his
business, which is photography, but also involves a lot of sales.
When I get him alone he admits he's created a monster. He's quite
materialistic and he has to keep working to keep up with all the
latest toys and flat-screen TVs, etc. When I call him at home he'll
talk while he's working on the computer, retouching photographs or
whatever, and I can tell he's not fully there. He's multi-tasking,
which means one or both of the two things he's doing is suffering in
some way. So I can't speak for all cellphone people (they come from
Planet Cellphone), only of my brother and others I know personally.
Actually, he's improved a bit with it. Years ago he went to see a
friend of mine conduct an orchestra (just practice), and his phone
went off while they were playing. I was not there but heard about it
from my friend later. Yes, it is sick. But just as the cellphone
must improve over the years, so till must the behavior of those who
use them, I hope.

TJ

On Dec 10, 8:10Â*pm, dsi1 > wrote:

> The guy that cleans our condo's common area is overly friendly like
> that. My wife and I think he's a serial killer. 🔫
> We have a JIB in our little burg that does OK. If I had a million
> bucks, I'd open one of those burger places that serves just burgers
> and fries and that's all, with only a drive thru window. Come to think
> of it, all restaurants should be like that. Maybe any store that sell
> anything should operate that way. �



I'm not authority but have always preferred eating establishments
with small menus. I'm from Allentown Pa where they make (IMO), the
best steak sandwiches in the country. Down here in Winston Salem NC,
barbeque is big and it's good I must admit. There's one place here
called Richards that has great pork barbeque. I used to complain or
at least wish they'd put more veggies on the menu, but then I guess it
wouldn't be Richards. Their menu is very limited and that is very
good.

TJ

> I guess I will treasure my loose-leaf, tabbed, extra blank pages in
> the back, address book. I think I bought it about 15 - 20 years ago.
> I didn't realize those were now dinosaurs. I have never used ink in
> it and am more determined than ever to keep it going. I prob. have
> 200 entries in it - and I'll be damned if I ever wish to try to put
> all of it into any cellphone. It goes with me on trips and if I ever
> need to evacuate, it's going. You may have to buy a plain notebook
> and make your own.
>

I still have one, too, and a backup for someday soon when I have the
time and ambition to rewrite everything. I still use it for seldom-used
phone numbers and addressing Christmas cards.


> As to graduation to 'harder stuff' - uh-uh. In fact we downsized
> from a pay per month cell (some months we never made one call) to one
> of those deals - pay 100 bucks for a year, 25 cents a minute.
> Rollover feature when you re-up for the next hundred. I don't think
> we've used 20 dollars worth of it since July.
>

I have the same plan and use it mostly for long-distance calls. I think
I still have 1800+ minutes, dating back four or five years. Son-in-law
says I am supporting Carlos Slim and the Mexican Mafia, but I wonder who
he is supporting with his smart-phone.

> I hate it when a friend calls to gab from a cell - bad transmission
> and echo etc.

I miss about 1/4 of the words when son or daughter-on-law call from
their cells. They don't have a landline and there's often spotty
reception from up in the mts.)

gloria p

On 12/10/2011 4:23 PM, Tommy Joe wrote:
>
> I'm not authority but have always preferred eating establishments
> with small menus. I'm from Allentown Pa where they make (IMO), the
> best steak sandwiches in the country. Down here in Winston Salem NC,
> barbeque is big and it's good I must admit. There's one place here
> called Richards that has great pork barbeque. I used to complain or
> at least wish they'd put more veggies on the menu, but then I guess it
> wouldn't be Richards. Their menu is very limited and that is very
> good.
>
> TJ

Sounds like my kind of place - barbecue joints are good. There was one
down the street but that closed down recently because they lost their
lease. The owner had a repair shop next door and it seems that his wife
might have killed herself and then tried to set her car on fire while it
was parked in the shop. There was something strange about that so I
suppose closing down and moving out was all for the best.

Small menus are good. The hole-in-the-wall Chinese/burger/plate lunch
place down the street which has been closed for about a year had a
pretty extensive menu. I once counted 25 separate menus hanging around
the walls of the building and behind the counter. I have no explanation
as to how that happened. The had puzzling items like "Italy Fried Won
Ton Spaghetti" in addition to local plate lunch items like beef stew and
hamburger steak and hamburger sandwiches and teri-beef sandwiches. My
guess is that it's the only place on this planet where you can get a
slice of pizza with Chinese roast pork and macaroni salad.

The owner would always complain to me about business and tell me of his
plans to build an office building on the very small property. The guy
was Chinese with a heavy accent so I might have told him that I'd rent
office space from him when he builds what could only be an impossibly
small but tall and scary building. If he actually comes through with
this, it's going to be embarrassing as heck!

Anyway, long story short, that spot would be about the right size for
for a burger-kiosk.

On 11/12/2011 10:21 AM, Tommy Joe wrote:
> On Dec 10, 6:51 am, > wrote:
>
>> Well, I guess that explains why you don't work there any more. Says a
>> lot about why you find it difficult to get a decent job too!
>
>
> I wish I had found it more difficult to get a job when I first
> joined the work force at age 30 back in '78. I worked on and off

I hit the workforce at 15 as an office boy or "gopher" as they are
called these days. That was in 52 if I recall correctly. Only ever had
the one employer, a rarity these days. Haven't been out of the workforce
since. Doing consultancy 2 - 3 days a week now just to fill some time.

> before that but mostly hung out in a poolroom doing my best to avoid
> it. Soon, not working became a fulltime job and I was forced to get a
> real one. That's when I started driving a cab. I'm good at it. But
> overall I think that work sucks. Can't wait for that SSI check when I
> turn 65 in Sept. If I'm still alive. Yes, if a person can get away

I will never qualify for what you call SSI.

> without working, more power to them. How about people who don't work
> for like 3 years and all they do is complain about having no job.

If you haven't had a job for three years, it can be really difficult to
find someone willing to take you on. You get tarnished with "that"
brush! Hard to shake off.

Come to think of it, I can't recall any of my peers being unemployed in
the 50s when I first started out in the workforce. There was always some
work around if you were prepared to (a) do anything that was available
or (b) go to where the work was. Some of my peers went on to uni after
high school and then found themselves unable to get work in their field.
They took any work that was going, even as a tram conductor. Different
attitude amongst a lot of the young people these days.

> Hey, if you can go 3 years without working and still have a roof over
> your head you're doing ok in my book.
>
> TJ

Depends a lot on what you were doing BEFORE you had the three years
without working. One of my friends retired a millionaire at 45 back when
a million was a real lot of money. After a few years he was climbing the
walls so he bought into a copper mine and, with a couple of partners,
operated it. He's since sold out of that and does some real
entrepreneurial stuff these days. He was a little older than I so he
must be in his early 80s by now.

Golden rule: Keep mind and body active as long as you can.

--

Krypsis

On 11/12/2011 12:03 PM, John Kuthe wrote:
> On Dec 10, 5:29 pm, Tommy > wrote:
> ....
<snip>
>
> I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
> NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.
>
> John Kuthe...
>

My cell phone has NEVER been listed since I was issued with one, a work
requirement and a very necessary one I must say.

--

Krypsis

Tommy Joe wrote:
>
> I'm not authority but have always preferred eating establishments
> with small menus.

Small mind.

As long as menus are large enough that the print is readable.
And how extensive a menu depends on the cusine... the typical NYC
Greek diner will have a very extensive menu.

Great food:
http://menupages.com/restaurants/kouros-bay/menu

On Sat, 10 Dec 2011 17:03:28 -0800 (PST), John Kuthe
> wrote:

>
> I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
> NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.

The nice thing about cell phones is you *don't* get those sales calls
(but politicians are trying to change that) and all the major
carriers have voice mail with their regular service.
http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/...l?rc=fb_share1

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

If you need orienting, I think this started off as a thread about cell
phones.

I have worked customer service for many years-eagerly went to work happy
every day for over 20yrs, not so happy last 10. Customers haven't
changed. Workplace has changed. It's like a recipe, one ingredient off
ruins the result. Nice segue (sp?) back to cooking if I say so myself
:-)
I liked the serial killer reference-I believe they are robots lol. I've
known a few super-positive people, and eventually violence becomes
associated with them in some way, whether its aggression towards
themselves or towards others. I am often called negative, yet my
viewpoint to me is reality-based. I see no reason to present only the
good and hide the bad-that just compounds decision-based errors.

On Dec 10, 11:21*pm, Krypsis > wrote:
> On 11/12/2011 12:03 PM, John Kuthe wrote:
>
> > On Dec 10, 5:29 pm, Tommy > *wrote:
> > ....
> <snip>
>
> > I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
> > NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.
>
> > John Kuthe...
>
> My cell phone has NEVER been listed since I was issued with one, a work
> requirement and a very necessary one I must say.
>
> --
>
> Krypsis

Most cell phones are not listed. I use my cell for business but that
gets forwarded from my business line which, of course, I try to get
out there on stuff like pens and pen holder and other cheap crap. My
cell is not listed.

This causes some problems with phone solicitors because live numbers
with people on the end is their bread and butter. My guess is that
there's robo diapers out there that harvest numbers that get a pick-
up, at least that's my guess why I get calls that hang up when I
answer. These numbers get labeled "DNA." Do Not Answer.

On Dec 11, 1:32*pm, dsi1 > wrote:
> On Dec 10, 11:21*pm, Krypsis > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On 11/12/2011 12:03 PM, John Kuthe wrote:
>
> > > On Dec 10, 5:29 pm, Tommy > *wrote:
> > > ....
> > <snip>
>
> > > I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
> > > NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.
>
> > > John Kuthe...
>
> > My cell phone has NEVER been listed since I was issued with one, a work
> > requirement and a very necessary one I must say.
>
> > --
>
> > Krypsis
>
> Most cell phones are not listed. I use my cell for business but that
> gets forwarded from my business line which, of course, I try to get
> out there on stuff like pens and pen holder and other cheap crap. My
> cell is not listed.
>
> This causes some problems with phone solicitors because live numbers
> with people on the end is their bread and butter. My guess is that
> there's robo diapers out there that harvest numbers that get a pick-
> up, at least that's my guess why I get calls that hang up when I
> answer. These numbers get labeled "DNA." Do Not Answer.

My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
not pick up. He emailed me instead and I told him I';d been home when
her called but didn't pick up and commented on why, and he replied
that I'd have to memorize his number then! HA! Not likely gonna
happen. Get a phone that transmits the correct CallerID info or expect
to go to CallNotes!

John Kuthe...

On Dec 11, 9:36*am, John Kuthe > wrote:
> On Dec 11, 1:32*pm, dsi1 > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Dec 10, 11:21*pm, Krypsis > wrote:
>
> > > On 11/12/2011 12:03 PM, John Kuthe wrote:
>
> > > > On Dec 10, 5:29 pm, Tommy > *wrote:
> > > > ....
> > > <snip>
>
> > > > I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
> > > > NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.
>
> > > > John Kuthe...
>
> > > My cell phone has NEVER been listed since I was issued with one, a work
> > > requirement and a very necessary one I must say.
>
> > > --
>
> > > Krypsis
>
> > Most cell phones are not listed. I use my cell for business but that
> > gets forwarded from my business line which, of course, I try to get
> > out there on stuff like pens and pen holder and other cheap crap. My
> > cell is not listed.
>
> > This causes some problems with phone solicitors because live numbers
> > with people on the end is their bread and butter. My guess is that
> > there's robo diapers out there that harvest numbers that get a pick-
> > up, at least that's my guess why I get calls that hang up when I
> > answer. These numbers get labeled "DNA." Do Not Answer.
>
> My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
> CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
> not pick up. He emailed me instead and I told him I';d been home when
> her called but didn't pick up and commented on why, and he replied
> that I'd have to memorize his number then! HA! Not likely gonna
> happen. Get a phone that transmits the correct CallerID info or expect
> to go to CallNotes!
>
> John Kuthe...
The ability to label numbers is a great thing about the cell. I get a
heads up if a client calls me. Its good to know who I'm talking to
before I answer. Some people won't pick up if the number is not given
so my feeling is that it's better to send your number when calling
others. Other people are so paranoid that they always hide theirs.

On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:36:48 -0800 (PST), John Kuthe
> wrote:

> My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
> CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
> not pick up. He emailed me instead and I told him I';d been home when
> her called but didn't pick up and commented on why, and he replied
> that I'd have to memorize his number then! HA! Not likely gonna
> happen. Get a phone that transmits the correct CallerID info or expect
> to go to CallNotes!

My husband's oldest sister has caller ID blocked on her land line, so
it appears on our cell phones as "private number" and we don't pick it
up because it's not identified. Of course, she gets "mad" at us - but
all she needs to do is temporarily unblock it when she calls us (which
she always "forgets" to do). She'll never change, so it's a stand off
because we won't pick up when she calls us from her house line.
Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

On Dec 11, 2:32*pm, sf > wrote:
....
> Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.
>
> --
> Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

That has always been my contention since the advent of CallerID. I
mean, I figured CallerID levels the playing field. The called knows
who *they* called, why should not the called know who is calling
them?

John Kuthe...

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:36:48 -0800 (PST), John Kuthe
> > wrote:
>
>> My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
>> CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
>> not pick up. He emailed me instead and I told him I';d been home when
>> her called but didn't pick up and commented on why, and he replied
>> that I'd have to memorize his number then! HA! Not likely gonna
>> happen. Get a phone that transmits the correct CallerID info or expect
>> to go to CallNotes!
>
> My husband's oldest sister has caller ID blocked on her land line, so
> it appears on our cell phones as "private number" and we don't pick it
> up because it's not identified. Of course, she gets "mad" at us - but
> all she needs to do is temporarily unblock it when she calls us (which
> she always "forgets" to do). She'll never change, so it's a stand off
> because we won't pick up when she calls us from her house line.
> Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.
>
> --

Anybody remember the old "one ringer" technique of old?

On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:02:22 -0800, "Pico Rico"
> wrote:

>
> "sf" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.
> >
>
> Anybody remember the old "one ringer" technique of old?
>
Vaguely. Kid calls home, parents call back? Nobody in my family did
that. I placed collect calls.

--
Food is an important part of a balanced diet.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:02:22 -0800, "Pico Rico"
> > wrote:
>
>>
>> "sf" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >
>> > Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.
>> >
>>
>> Anybody remember the old "one ringer" technique of old?
>>
> Vaguely. Kid calls home, parents call back? Nobody in my family did
> that. I placed collect calls.
>


That, or give a one ringer, then call again. they would answer, since the
one ringer tipped them off as to who was calling.

You reminded me of a guy who used to call collect when he got off a flight.
The call was refused. But the message got through, for free.

On 12/12/2011 6:32 AM, dsi1 wrote:
> On Dec 10, 11:21 pm, > wrote:
>> On 11/12/2011 12:03 PM, John Kuthe wrote:
>>
>>> On Dec 10, 5:29 pm, Tommy > wrote:
>>> ....
>> <snip>
>>
>>> I have voice mail for a reason! Use it! I have CallerID too, and I do
>>> NOT pick up on 1800 numbers or anything with no name.
>>
>>> John Kuthe...
>>
>> My cell phone has NEVER been listed since I was issued with one, a work
>> requirement and a very necessary one I must say.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Krypsis
>
> Most cell phones are not listed. I use my cell for business but that
> gets forwarded from my business line which, of course, I try to get
> out there on stuff like pens and pen holder and other cheap crap. My
> cell is not listed.
>
> This causes some problems with phone solicitors because live numbers
> with people on the end is their bread and butter. My guess is that
> there's robo diapers out there that harvest numbers that get a pick-
> up, at least that's my guess why I get calls that hang up when I
> answer. These numbers get labeled "DNA." Do Not Answer.

True but my caller ID is off as well. My phone has an option to turn
caller ID on but it won't because the cellphone provider is required to
turn it off at their end.

My home phones are also unlisted with no caller ID turned on.



--

Krypsis

On 12/11/2011 2:21 PM, Krypsis wrote:
>
> True but my caller ID is off as well. My phone has an option to turn
> caller ID on but it won't because the cellphone provider is required to
> turn it off at their end.
>
> My home phones are also unlisted with no caller ID turned on.

Interesting. I think caller ID is the one of the greatest advances in
telephones since long distance. This changes the dynamics of answering a
call and it evens the playing field between the guy calling and the
receiver. It's all a part of the brave new world of our concepts of
privacy.

On Dec 11, 12:36 am, dsi1 > wrote:

> Sounds like my kind of place - barbecue joints are good. There was one
> down the street but that closed down recently because they lost their
> lease. The owner had a repair shop next door and it seems that his wife
> might have killed herself and then tried to set her car on fire while it
> was parked in the shop. There was something strange about that so I
> suppose closing down and moving out was all for the best.
>
> Small menus are good. The hole-in-the-wall Chinese/burger/plate lunch
> place down the street which has been closed for about a year had a
> pretty extensive menu. I once counted 25 separate menus hanging around
> the walls of the building and behind the counter. I have no explanation
> as to how that happened. The had puzzling items like "Italy Fried Won
> Ton Spaghetti" in addition to local plate lunch items like beef stew and
> hamburger steak and hamburger sandwiches and teri-beef sandwiches. My
> guess is that it's the only place on this planet where you can get a
> slice of pizza with Chinese roast pork and macaroni salad.
>
> The owner would always complain to me about business and tell me of his
> plans to build an office building on the very small property. The guy
> was Chinese with a heavy accent so I might have told him that I'd rent
> office space from him when he builds what could only be an impossibly
> small but tall and scary building. If he actually comes through with
> this, it's going to be embarrassing as heck!
>
> Anyway, long story short, that spot would be about the right size for
> for a burger-kiosk.


Burger-kiosk, lol. When I lived in Hollywood Ca there were quite a
few really inexpensive Thai restaurants around, some of which stayed
open till 4am. There was one spot, the first one I was referred to,
called Thai Spicy Chicken. They had tables if you wanted to use them,
but there were no waiters, just an ordering counter. It moved. A big
line but it moved fast. They had more than just chicken but that was
the main draw. I think that's why the line moved fast. "Assembly
Burger", lol.

Anyway, this joint closed down one day for interior changes that
took about half a year. When they reopened there were linens on the
tables and waiters in place of the fast moving counter service. I ate
there after the change, only once, and for me it could not compare in
any favorable way to what was there before the change. Now of course
I know the people who ran the place are in the job of trying to make
money, and maybe they needed some kind of change. I don't know. Or
maybe they sold it to someone else. Anyway, amazingly enough - can't
speak for now, but more like 20 years ago - there were quite a few
really inexpensive Thai restaurants in Hollywood because they had
their own Thai community there.

Your comments on the owner with the skinny space looking to grow
his business vertically was funny. Maybe the world needs people who
are driven. Maybe the driven drive us. But I still think it's funny
and sad at the same time to watch driven people work work work to get
more only to throw it back into bigger and bigger ventures that cause
bigger and bigger headaches, for most of them anyway. I'm not the
driven type. I'm the type who wants to hit the lottery but doesn't
want to buy the ticket. Maybe the driven lunatic business owner is
ultimately a more generous human being than me as all I want to do is
relax and live with the great advantages generations of hard workers
have given us with their many sacrifices.

TJ

On Dec 11, 4:14 am, Krypsis > wrote:


> I hit the workforce at 15 as an office boy or "gopher" as they are
> called these days. That was in 52 if I recall correctly. Only ever had
> the one employer, a rarity these days. Haven't been out of the workforce
> since. Doing consultancy 2 - 3 days a week now just to fill some time.

> I will never qualify for what you call SSI.

> If you haven't had a job for three years, it can be really difficult to
> find someone willing to take you on. You get tarnished with "that"
> brush! Hard to shake off.
>
> Come to think of it, I can't recall any of my peers being unemployed in
> the 50s when I first started out in the workforce. There was always some
> work around if you were prepared to (a) do anything that was available
> or (b) go to where the work was. Some of my peers went on to uni after
> high school and then found themselves unable to get work in their field.
> They took any work that was going, even as a tram conductor. Different
> attitude amongst a lot of the young people these days.

> Depends a lot on what you were doing BEFORE you had the three years
> without working. One of my friends retired a millionaire at 45 back when
> a million was a real lot of money. After a few years he was climbing the
> walls so he bought into a copper mine and, with a couple of partners,
> operated it. He's since sold out of that and does some real
> entrepreneurial stuff these days. He was a little older than I so he
> must be in his early 80s by now.
>
> Golden rule: Keep mind and body active as long as you can.


I am a believer in the golden rule. But when it comes to keeping
the mind and body active, I'm sure there are more ways than just work
to do it.

You seem a bit bitter about me possibly getting SSI payments of
$675 a month when I turn 65. I realize that could all be in my mind.
Anyway, not everyone ages the same. My sister could retire now but
she wants to wait till she's 70. That's her call, but I think it's
nuts. Well, maybe not nuts - let's just say I can't identify with
that kind of thinking. Retire now and take your ass to Hobbyland.
God, I don't understand it.

The reality is, many people spend their lives trying to keep up
with the Jones's. No crime in that (well, maybe sometimes) - but also
no crime in me not taking that route. But just because I have always
chosen to live close to the ground does not mean I have not done my
share of work. I work hard and I work good. Just because I openly
admit to hating it does not mean I'm not good at whatever I do.
That's because I feel if you have to work you might as well do a good
job. Just because someone says they love their job doesn't mean they
really do, or that they're good at it. I deserve that SSI and it
can't come soon enough.

Prepared to work at anything? I've worked moving furniture, did
6 months in the carnival working the games (hated it), worked in a
poolroom on and off for 10 years, and even sold myself on the streets
when I was younger. At the poolroom I worked for all the beer and
free pool time I could handle, no cash. I have also been driving a
cab for 33 years. I've put in my fair share of work and I deserve all
that's coming and more. I do not measure the value of work on the
basis of time put in, but rather on the basis of energy and honesty
put in - although I certainly feel like I've done my time. Yes, my
time in the workforce - for me it's very similar to the time one
spends in prison waiting for parole. Let me outta here.

A lot of people are living beyond their means. That is their
business. But when things don't pan out they cry the blues. They
call themselves broke when they still have money in the bank. They
don't know what broke is. I've worked hard and I've been dead broke
many times. Maybe I could have tried harder. But I'll leave that for
those who want it. Yes, I'm all for staying active and busy, and I'm
sure there are many ways to accomplish that without having a job. By
the way, I'm making like $100 a week driving the cab. It's getting
bad. I feel fortunate that I'm getting that SSI just when I need it
most - if I make it to 65 - almost a year away - and who knows what
might happen before then?

TJ

On 12/11/2011 3:26 PM, Tommy Joe wrote:
>
> Burger-kiosk, lol. When I lived in Hollywood Ca there were quite a
> few really inexpensive Thai restaurants around, some of which stayed
> open till 4am. There was one spot, the first one I was referred to,
> called Thai Spicy Chicken. They had tables if you wanted to use them,
> but there were no waiters, just an ordering counter. It moved. A big
> line but it moved fast. They had more than just chicken but that was
> the main draw. I think that's why the line moved fast. "Assembly
> Burger", lol.
>
> Anyway, this joint closed down one day for interior changes that
> took about half a year. When they reopened there were linens on the
> tables and waiters in place of the fast moving counter service. I ate
> there after the change, only once, and for me it could not compare in
> any favorable way to what was there before the change. Now of course
> I know the people who ran the place are in the job of trying to make
> money, and maybe they needed some kind of change. I don't know. Or
> maybe they sold it to someone else. Anyway, amazingly enough - can't
> speak for now, but more like 20 years ago - there were quite a few
> really inexpensive Thai restaurants in Hollywood because they had
> their own Thai community there.


The hole-in-the-wall places are great because there's not a whole bunch
of expectations, the customers want hot food, served fast, with decent
quality and a fair or better than fair price. The owners want happy,
paying customers who are not going to hassle the staff. What could be
simpler?

>
> Your comments on the owner with the skinny space looking to grow
> his business vertically was funny. Maybe the world needs people who
> are driven. Maybe the driven drive us. But I still think it's funny
> and sad at the same time to watch driven people work work work to get
> more only to throw it back into bigger and bigger ventures that cause
> bigger and bigger headaches, for most of them anyway. I'm not the
> driven type. I'm the type who wants to hit the lottery but doesn't
> want to buy the ticket. Maybe the driven lunatic business owner is
> ultimately a more generous human being than me as all I want to do is
> relax and live with the great advantages generations of hard workers
> have given us with their many sacrifices.
>
> TJ

The image burned into my memory of the owner is of a guy that's behind
the counter with one hand under his chin dreaming about the future - or
was he really thinking about the past? Or maybe it was of Hong Kong.
Anyway, it was a pretty wistful image. I wonder what he's doing now...

http://fft.starbulletin.com/tag/mw-drive-inn/

On Dec 11, 12:46*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> Tommy Joe wrote:
>
> > I'm not authority but have always preferred eating establishments
> > with small menus.
>
> Small mind.
>
> As long as menus are large enough that the print is readable.
> And how extensive a menu depends on the cusine... the typical NYC
> Greek diner will have a very extensive menu.
>
> Great food:http://menupages.com/restaurants/kouros-bay/menu


I wasn't suggesting we pass a law outlawing establishments with
large menus, only saying I prefer establishments with smaller ones.
You'd make a hell of dictator, Mr New York. Of course with your
arrogant attitude you probably wouldn't last very long before being
assassinated. Yeah, I'm sure there are some great places with large
menus, and I'm sure there are some really bad ones too.

Hey, how about a drive-thru cruise? You might like only one item
from 4 different fast food joints, so you drive from one to the other
to get the 4 items to take home and sling together on a plate for
dinner. "Hey man, where did you get the food?" - "Well, I got the
baked potato at Momma Potato, I got the burger at The Burger Palace, I
got the salad at Salad City, and I got the veggies at the Veggie Inn.
Now get out of my face and let me dig in."

TJ

On Dec 11, 1:45*pm, (z z) wrote:

> I have worked customer service for many years-eagerly went to work happy
> every day for over 20yrs, not so happy last 10. Customers haven't
> changed. Workplace has changed. It's like a recipe, one ingredient off
> ruins the result. Nice segue (sp?) back to cooking if I say so myself
> :-)
> I liked the serial killer reference-I believe they are robots lol. I've
> known a few super-positive people, and eventually violence becomes
> associated with them in some way, whether its aggression towards
> themselves or towards others. I am often called negative, yet my
> viewpoint to me is reality-based. I see no reason to present only the
> good and hide the bad-that just compounds decision-based errors.


I don't know who exactly you were responding to here, but the
always-happy, Egyptian, Jack in the Box fast-food guy I referred to in
my post - I did not make it clear enough - I did not see him as a
potential serial killer - but more as the one-shot-deal flip-out
artist who kills a bunch of people when he snaps because he just
couldn't take being nice all the time any more. I don't like serial
killers although I find them interesting. I really prefer the one
shot deal type. I would never do it. At least I don't think I
would. But I can identify. I think everyone does at times.

TJ

On Dec 11, 2:36*pm, John Kuthe > wrote:

> My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
> CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
> not pick up.


This is a great example of why they ("they" again) - why they
should come out with a cellphone answering machine that operates in
the moment so it can be used as a screener. Suppose your nephew had
been in an awful car wreck that pinned him and his passenger into the
bed of a rising creek. His own cellphone with the number you'd
recognize was lost in the crash. But right next to him is his
passenger's cellphone. He grabs it and calls you for help, but you
won't answer because you don't know who it is. It is time for real-
time cellphone answering machine service to happen. But wait, once
again I have proved myself to be a fool as in truth your nephew could
simply dial 911. They'll answer anything. But maybe he's got illegal
substances in the car and doesn't want the cops invovled. How about
that? So he calls you for help and you let him down just because you
don't recognize the number? Come on man, answer that phone, you
never know what's on the other end.

You let him die - you let your nephew die!
TJ

On Dec 11, 3:00*pm, dsi1 > wrote:

> The ability to label numbers is a great thing about the cell. I get a
> heads up if a client calls me. Its good to know who I'm talking to
> before I answer. Some people won't pick up if the number is not given
> so my feeling is that it's better to send your number when calling
> others. Other people are so paranoid that they always hide theirs.


It's good to put one's self in a place where hiding is not
necessary. Looking at caller ID before answering is a good thing. I
don't do it because I use the cellphone only for driving the cab, and
I vowed when I first started doing it this way that I would be
thoroughly honest with my customers and take them on a first call
basis, not on the basis of who pays more or whatever. Of course this
sometimes costs me money, but in the long run it soothes my soul to
feel that I am doing what I think is the right thing.

TJ

On Dec 11, 3:32*pm, sf > wrote:
> On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:36:48 -0800 (PST), John Kuthe
>
> > wrote:
> > My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
> > CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
> > not pick up. He emailed me instead and I told him I';d been home when
> > her called but didn't pick up and commented on why, and he replied
> > that I'd have to memorize his number then! HA! Not likely gonna
> > happen. Get a phone that transmits the correct CallerID info or expect
> > to go to CallNotes!
>
> My husband's oldest sister has caller ID blocked on her land line, so
> it appears on our cell phones as "private number" and we don't pick it
> up because it's not identified. *Of course, she gets "mad" at us - but
> all she needs to do is temporarily unblock it when she calls us (which
> she always "forgets" to do). *She'll never change, so it's a stand off
> because we won't pick up when she calls us from her house line.
> Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.


Funny stuff - like which came first, the chicken or the egg. Funny
situation there with your older sister.

I see the funny
TJ

> On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:02:22 -0800, "Pico Rico"

> > Anybody remember the old "one ringer" technique of old?


Yeah, but I got so many people on my "one ringer" plan that I had
to assign them numbers. Bob would call and let it ring just once.
Bill had to let it ring twice. Sam, three times. On and on. I had
23 different people on the plan. But rarely did anyone over number 12
call me.

Don't worry, just let it ring 23 times and I'll know it's you and call
you back,
TJ

On Dec 11, 5:54*pm, "Pico Rico" > wrote:

> You reminded me of a guy who used to call collect when he got off a flight.

On 12/11/2011 4:16 PM, Tommy Joe wrote:
> On Dec 11, 3:00 pm, > wrote:
>
>> The ability to label numbers is a great thing about the cell. I get a
>> heads up if a client calls me. Its good to know who I'm talking to
>> before I answer. Some people won't pick up if the number is not given
>> so my feeling is that it's better to send your number when calling
>> others. Other people are so paranoid that they always hide theirs.
>
>
> It's good to put one's self in a place where hiding is not
> necessary. Looking at caller ID before answering is a good thing. I
> don't do it because I use the cellphone only for driving the cab, and
> I vowed when I first started doing it this way that I would be
> thoroughly honest with my customers and take them on a first call
> basis, not on the basis of who pays more or whatever. Of course this
> sometimes costs me money, but in the long run it soothes my soul to
> feel that I am doing what I think is the right thing.
>
> TJ

Your problem is clear - you'd rather have a clear conscience more than a
fat wallet. I have that same problem...

On Dec 11, 8:56*pm, dsi1 > wrote:

> The image burned into my memory of the owner is of a guy that's behind
> the counter with one hand under his chin dreaming about the future - or
> was he really thinking about the past? Or maybe it was of Hong Kong.
> Anyway, it was a pretty wistful image. I wonder what he's doing now...
>
> http://fft.starbulletin.com/tag/mw-drive-inn/


Via your description of the guy I got a different image, but not
much different. I know a guy who started driving a cab here recently
who talks with me often about cab driving because I've been doing it
for 33 years. I know people work for money, so it would be unfair of
me to judge them on how they go about it as long as they're not
hurting anyone. But this guy is driven. He's capable of laughing
about it though. He drives a cab and gives out his cellphone number
to create regular customers. But he's creating so many of them that
he's getting too many calls and can't handle them by himself - so now
he's talking about getting more cabs and leasing them out to other
drivers. I told him he doesn't know what kind of a headache he's
looking at. He got plans and maybe that's good. But it's funny to
see him getting ahead of himself a bit. One thing I can say about the
guy is that he's able to laugh at it too. Who knows, maybe he'll
succeed. But to me he looks like a guy who just could not possibly
ever get enough no matter how much he takes in as all he does is throw
it back into an ever-enlarging business that reminds me of an ever-
enlarging headache that requires increasingly higher doses of daily
pain medicine to control it.

Funny stuff,
TJ

On Dec 11, 9:36*pm, dsi1 > wrote:

> Your problem is clear - you'd rather have a clear conscience more than a
> fat wallet. I have that same problem...



Thanks for that. And we both know it's not a problem. But I know
what you mean. Now I'm not saying I'm the most honest person on earth
in every way. I might take something belonging to someone else if it
comes my way and I need it. But in the cab I have devoted myself to
pure honesty as I was on the other end of that when I worked with
dispatchers who would give me old orders where no one would be there
when I arrived, or they'd give me the calls they knew were a hassle.
Even that I am proud of in a masochistic way. But I vowed when I
first started using the cellphone in the cab to dispatch myself the
way I thought company dispatchers should have done it when I was put
at their mercy, which was pretty much non existent. Thanks again.

TJ

On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 18:17:51 -0800 (PST), Tommy Joe
> wrote:

>On Dec 11, 3:32*pm, sf > wrote:
>> On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 11:36:48 -0800 (PST), John Kuthe
>>
>> > wrote:
>> > My nephew called me for Thanksgiving plans, but it came in on my
>> > CallerID with an area code and phone number I did recognize, so I did
>> > not pick up. He emailed me instead and I told him I';d been home when
>> > her called but didn't pick up and commented on why, and he replied
>> > that I'd have to memorize his number then! HA! Not likely gonna
>> > happen. Get a phone that transmits the correct CallerID info or expect
>> > to go to CallNotes!
>>
>> My husband's oldest sister has caller ID blocked on her land line, so
>> it appears on our cell phones as "private number" and we don't pick it
>> up because it's not identified. *Of course, she gets "mad" at us - but
>> all she needs to do is temporarily unblock it when she calls us (which
>> she always "forgets" to do). *She'll never change, so it's a stand off
>> because we won't pick up when she calls us from her house line.
>> Identify yourself or talk to the answering machine.
>
>
> Funny stuff - like which came first, the chicken or the egg. Funny
>situation there with your older sister.
>
>I see the funny

People who screen their calls have a disease; paranoia. Telephone
paranoia stems from hiding from bill collectors... there is no other
logical reason. I grew up with phones that didn't have caller ID so
even though my phones have that feature I rarely look at it before
answering. If it's some computer call I immediately hang up, if it's
anyone taking a survey I immediately hang up, if it's someone who
misdialed I politely tell them they got a wrong number and I
immediately hang up. For the few times in a year that I get one of
those kind of calls I'm not bothered. And some people screen their
calls because they don't want certain callers to know that they are
sitting there with nothing more important to do... my brother never
answers calls, he lets them go into voice mail so that when he calls
back a week later he can say he had a meeting with the dali lama or
some such just to make his ego go all aflutter. The one thing I
absolutely hate is when I call and they immediately ask if I can hold
a second... so before I can answer I'm on hold. Now I happen to know
how long a second is so I wait no more than two minutes and hang up.
If it's a business I'll call again later and usually get someone with
more maturity... if it's a private person I don't call back, they can
call me if they feel like it, they had their chance. I don't care,
I'm not much of a telephone person, I don't know how people can be
yakking 24/7, don't they ever do anything productive... my calls last
maybe five/ten minutes... and I rarely make more than two calls a day.

On 12/12/2011 12:52 PM, Tommy Joe wrote:
> On Dec 11, 4:14 am, > wrote:
>
>
>> I hit the workforce at 15 as an office boy or "gopher" as they are
>> called these days. That was in 52 if I recall correctly. Only ever had
>> the one employer, a rarity these days. Haven't been out of the workforce
>> since. Doing consultancy 2 - 3 days a week now just to fill some time.
>
>> I will never qualify for what you call SSI.
>
>> If you haven't had a job for three years, it can be really difficult to
>> find someone willing to take you on. You get tarnished with "that"
>> brush! Hard to shake off.
>>
>> Come to think of it, I can't recall any of my peers being unemployed in
>> the 50s when I first started out in the workforce. There was always some
>> work around if you were prepared to (a) do anything that was available
>> or (b) go to where the work was. Some of my peers went on to uni after
>> high school and then found themselves unable to get work in their field.
>> They took any work that was going, even as a tram conductor. Different
>> attitude amongst a lot of the young people these days.
>
>> Depends a lot on what you were doing BEFORE you had the three years
>> without working. One of my friends retired a millionaire at 45 back when
>> a million was a real lot of money. After a few years he was climbing the
>> walls so he bought into a copper mine and, with a couple of partners,
>> operated it. He's since sold out of that and does some real
>> entrepreneurial stuff these days. He was a little older than I so he
>> must be in his early 80s by now.
>>
>> Golden rule: Keep mind and body active as long as you can.
>
>
> I am a believer in the golden rule. But when it comes to keeping
> the mind and body active, I'm sure there are more ways than just work
> to do it.

I'm sure there are. I get my jollies from my work. It gets me out and
about and meeting people. That's the important bit.
>
> You seem a bit bitter about me possibly getting SSI payments of
> $675 a month when I turn 65. I realize that could all be in my mind.

Not bitter in the slightest. I have way too much in the way of
superannuation income, my fault I know for investing in my future from
my 20s onwards. It was compulsory in government employment.

> Anyway, not everyone ages the same. My sister could retire now but
> she wants to wait till she's 70. That's her call, but I think it's
> nuts. Well, maybe not nuts - let's just say I can't identify with
> that kind of thinking. Retire now and take your ass to Hobbyland.
> God, I don't understand it.

I have hobbyland AND work. What could be better?
>
> The reality is, many people spend their lives trying to keep up
> with the Jones's. No crime in that (well, maybe sometimes) - but also
> no crime in me not taking that route. But just because I have always
> chosen to live close to the ground does not mean I have not done my
> share of work. I work hard and I work good. Just because I openly
> admit to hating it does not mean I'm not good at whatever I do.
> That's because I feel if you have to work you might as well do a good
> job. Just because someone says they love their job doesn't mean they
> really do, or that they're good at it. I deserve that SSI and it
> can't come soon enough.
>
> Prepared to work at anything? I've worked moving furniture, did
> 6 months in the carnival working the games (hated it), worked in a
> poolroom on and off for 10 years, and even sold myself on the streets
> when I was younger. At the poolroom I worked for all the beer and
> free pool time I could handle, no cash. I have also been driving a
> cab for 33 years. I've put in my fair share of work and I deserve all
> that's coming and more. I do not measure the value of work on the
> basis of time put in, but rather on the basis of energy and honesty
> put in - although I certainly feel like I've done my time. Yes, my
> time in the workforce - for me it's very similar to the time one
> spends in prison waiting for parole. Let me outta here.
>
> A lot of people are living beyond their means. That is their
> business. But when things don't pan out they cry the blues. They
> call themselves broke when they still have money in the bank. They
> don't know what broke is. I've worked hard and I've been dead broke
> many times. Maybe I could have tried harder. But I'll leave that for
> those who want it. Yes, I'm all for staying active and busy, and I'm
> sure there are many ways to accomplish that without having a job. By
> the way, I'm making like $100 a week driving the cab. It's getting
> bad. I feel fortunate that I'm getting that SSI just when I need it
> most - if I make it to 65 - almost a year away - and who knows what
> might happen before then?
>
> TJ
>


--

Krypsis

On 12/12/2011 1:21 PM, Tommy Joe wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:02:22 -0800, "Pico Rico"
>
>>> Anybody remember the old "one ringer" technique of old?
>
>
> Yeah, but I got so many people on my "one ringer" plan that I had
> to assign them numbers. Bob would call and let it ring just once.
> Bill had to let it ring twice. Sam, three times. On and on. I had
> 23 different people on the plan. But rarely did anyone over number 12
> call me.
>
> Don't worry, just let it ring 23 times and I'll know it's you and call
> you back,
> TJ

I'd lose count...

--

Krypsis

On Dec 11, 8:31*pm, Tommy Joe > wrote:
> On Dec 11, 5:54*pm, "Pico Rico" > wrote:
>
> > You reminded me of a guy who used to call collect when he got off a flight.
> > The call was refused. *But the message got through, for free.
>
> * *Do you remember the days when you could pop a penny into the nickel
> slot of pay phone, and at just the moment the penny went in and made a
> certain sound you'd slam your palm into the coin return button and get
> a dial tone? *You could do the same thing with newspaper machines.
> Drop in a coin of lesser value and slam the coin return button at just
> the right time. *It took practice. *Made me feel like an artist.
>
> TJ

We discovered we could play this pinball machine forever if when the
ball counter reached 21 or 23 (it went to 25 before game over) and
we'd press both flippers and jam on the coin return, it would set the
counter back to 0! And we'd get to play again! And it would do it over
and over! All we had to do was stop at 21 or 23 every time, and...

I have NO idea who discovered this or how, but it was the coolest
thing when we were 12, yano?

John Kuthe...

Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> People who screen their calls have a disease; paranoia. Telephone
> paranoia stems from hiding from bill collectors... there is no other
> logical reason.

Not always true. I usually screen my land-line calls and I have no bill
collectors to hide from. Occasionally, I will just answer the phone and
it's almost always some solicitor or a wrong number or some friend that
always wants to talk for an hour or so (and will be offended if I don't have
time to talk). Or it's a customer calling after business hours. I'm usually
doing something during waking hours and can't be bothered to stop what I'm
doing to answer the phone every 30 minutes or whatever. Anyone who knows me
knows to leave a message and I'll call you back...or send me an email.

Only important contacts are on my cell phone list. If you aren't on the
list, leave a voicemail or forget about contacting me. Again...many of
those calls are bill collectors with the wrong number. If it's someone on my
selective list I will call them back immediately if my phone was on at the
time.

Funny answering-machine message that I heard on a stand-up comedy show once:
"Hi this is Gary. I'm home now and in a moment I will hear your voice and
I'll have a decision to make."