Tune in tomorrow, when I try and look even more horrific.
- Steven Perez
i should take a camera phone shot of myself just after i take off my CPAP mask in the morning. i look like a fscking corpse, and not a fresh one.
- Joe Silence disconnected
I think I just won the Embarrassing Photo Meme. Forever. :D
- Steven Perez
I am. Its been a while since the bionic GI tract has had something that hot & spicy. (yeah,I prolly just set a bunch of y'all up there - go for it)
- Mary Carmen
I thought my daughter dragging around a stuffed dog last year was pretty sad. This though....*sigh*...I may have to break down one of these days and get them a real dog. Do you have any idea how pathetic this scene is? Our driveway is on a slope. He's saying, "Stay, Venus! Don't roll!"
- Admiral Anika
OMG. That is seriously funny. I nearly spit out my fritos.
- Yolanda
no no no real dog..you will be the one stuck cleaning and walking ..let them use their imaginations
- VAL D. Zone
Maybe he could do with a pet box instead; those don't roll.
- Andrew C
My daughter had a pet stick when she was about 7. She dragged it around the whole summer. Already having a pet cat didn't seem to make much of a difference, she still had a need for something on a "leash".
- April Russo (app103)
JOB POSTING: Unpaid Internship as Ghost Friendfeeder. Must posses internet connection and serious snark. Sardonic humour and thick skin a plus. Must understand and be able to implement 80's referrences and Pedobear images with aplomb. Successful candidate will be awarded a certificate of Social Media Expert. DM if interested.
I dunno. There are a bunch of folks who still claim that it's all an "Andy Kaufman" style gag, all to promote the documentary that Casey Affleck is doing about his supposed hip hop career. I wouldn't put it past him.
- Fleagle
"There are precious few children’s shows out there that are really immune to generation gaps, but Fraggle Rock stands the test of time with its humor and the easy-to-grasp lessons of morality worked into each episode. With Fraggle Rock The Complete First Season ($27) you get 24 episodes of this Jim Henson creation. Enjoy original music and learn some life lessons with over 700 minutes of Fraggle fun. Bonus features include interviews, documentaries, and a replica of Jim Henson’s notepad."
- Derrick
from Bookmarklet
I tried to get my kids into it. I was bummed when they didn't enjoy it as much as I did :(
- Shevonne
they've got a complete series as well...they've actually released it twice as a complete series. i have the 1st release, tis awesome. Shevonne you should buy it for yourself! :)
- Sir Shuping
Same here, Shevonne. Fraggle Rock was such a great show. I still think my kids are just weird.
- ha3rvey (business time)
and sorry, it's a bench. not a bed. my bad. still looks awesome though!!!!
- Morgan Haley
Oh, the idea can be transferred to something for a bed to get the same cool factor. I might have to break out the sewing machine and do it. :-D
- April Russo (app103)
ok, I am thinking of this rather seriously, and I am wondering what to do about bed pillows. What do I do with them for pillow covers to make them fit into this scene without looking out of place? Mini ice cream sandwiches? Little popcicles?
- April Russo (app103)
Here is how I am thinking about how to do it: 2 comforters, made with foam (for more shape support) in addition to the traditional fiberfill, and a fitted sheet made with a knit material that covers both box spring and mattress, instead of just the mattress. (knitted material will give a tighter fit, and covering both would avoid the appearance of a split in the ice cream) Without a bed frame, placed directly on the floor, you'd have the same look as this bench.
- April Russo (app103)
I don't think strawberries would work. bed pillows are not strawberry shaped and cramming them into a shaped pillow sham might not work well.
- April Russo (app103)
order will be canceled if strawberries are present. :-)
- Morgan Haley
I was thinking of maybe both small ice cream sandwich pillow shams and twin pop ones. The ice cream ones would be made essentially same as the bed covering, with 2 quilted pieces for top & bottom of it with a strip of white material between them, which is where the pillow would actually be. The popcicles ones would be 2 pieces of material with a layer of foam between them for shape,...
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- April Russo (app103)
Morgan, if I do this and you are serious about buying one, what size bed did you want it for? Twin, full, or queen? (I think twin would look more realistic and match the image shown here)
- April Russo (app103)
How fitting for today: "The most important lesson of all is this - don’t be an asshole. Lots of smart people tend to develop rude, antagonistic behavior patterns. Sometimes, they’re just jerks by nature."
"Other times, they’ve seen this behavior exhibited by people they work with and admire (something which used to happen a lot in the Microsoft of 10-15 years ago). Some hackers mix up being rude with being forthright and blunt. Don’t - there’s a world of difference between the two. You can be blunt, call out someone’s BS without being nasty. In fact, some of the people who I admire most...
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- Mary Carmen
If you can't find anyone online to help you with Spanish (or other languages), you may want to check this out - http://www.livemocha.com.
- imabonehead
I want to learn so I can actually have a conversation with my kids' friends parents without sounding like an idiot.
- suzanne
In Texas, we are on the aggressive-learning plan. Most signage is bi-lingual. Claro.
- Josh Haley
Yeah Josh - very much like that here. In fact there are plenty of places nearby where you can't really tell you're in an English speaking country at all...
- Tad
from fftogo
Do you say "claro", Josh? I feel like I usually hear "claro" in Spain Spanish and "por supuesto" (spl?) in Mexican Spanish. But I'm gaining that mostly from films, and the fact that my university Spanish teacher who spoke Mexican Spanish always said "por supuesto." They both mean "of course," right?
- Jandy, ConcertMaven of FF
I would add another hearty recommendation for Coffee Break Spanish. I was reading several books while I went through the CBS episodes and it made a huge difference. The only thing to keep in mind is that they are primarily teaching continental Spanish, that is, Spanish with an Iberian accent. This means instead of "cinco" you pronounce it "thinko" and such. They do say, "if you're learning Latin American Spanish it would be ..." but you have to keep that in mind.
- Joey Gibson
Cuando quieras practicar no dudes en preguntarme algo... yo tambien quiero practicar mi ingles :)
- Cesar Sanchez
When you want to practice not hesitate to ask me something ... I also want to practice my English
- Cesar Sanchez
I really dislike the American way of quoting prices without tax. When I have to pay for something, I mostly care about how much money I have to pay overall, and not where the money goes.
While this is not too bad when all you have to deal with is a 7-9% sales tax, it's annoying in the case of airline tickets, where "taxes and fees" may be up to 50% of the overall price.
- Tudor Bosman
They've been trying to pass a law in Canada to force airlines to advertise their fares "all-in" but the airline lobbyists are winning so far.
- Kenton
yeah the sales tax can annoy me to no end... mostly because I'm a total scrooge. Also when they add euro VAT to stuff just before checkout on Amazon, I always have to think about why the price is suddenly 25% higher (Danish VAT is 25% normally included the advertised price)
- Rasmus Lauridsen
Forcing them to add tax in will just make things cost more. Because lets say something costs $299, or $320 with tax. If they're forced to advertise total price, then guess what will happen? Retailers *love* their -9 pricing schemes. They'll raise the price to make the total have that 9 at the end again. They certainly won't *lower* the price to do that...
- Otto
Otto: the same argument applies for any change in the pricing structure. Suppose the situation were reversed: suppose prices included the tax, and retailers were considering removing the tax from advertised prices; they'd rise the price such that the new advertised price ended with a 9...
- Tudor Bosman
from Android
Tudor: I agree with your logic. Both cases are true. Which means that I'm for the status quo, I suppose. :)
- Otto
Completely agree Tudor. That was the biggest shocks when we moved to the US. Back in Turkey, everything is tax included and you know how much you are going to spend: no surprises.
- Eren Emre Kanal
<side-rant>Checked on price for round trip flight from a Calgary, Canada to LAX. IT WAS DOUBLE THE PRICE compared to LAX to Calgary. Same exact flight time, other parameters except reverse starting point that is.</side-rant>
- Micah Wittman
There's a political reason why some would want it separate: it makes it more visceral what the government's take is. You feel the sales tax as an increase on what you wanted to pay.
- Ray Cromwell
Not including the tax encourages consumption. We need the economic stimulus :).
- Gary Burd
Otto: also, people understand very, very well how to compare prices -- "lower is better". This is why a merchant deciding to include the tax in the advertised price unilaterally would lose in the marketplace; people would see their prices as higher, and would be dissuaded from shopping there, even before thinking about the fact that taxes are included. This is also why, I think, prices...
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- Tudor Bosman
Micah, an article in the Calgary Herald on Saturday had someone compare prices from Toronto to Vancouver (about $1,000.00) v.s. Buffalo to Seattle and then shuttle to Vancouver (about $500.00). The taxes are killers.
- Kenton
There is a big problem that can occur for the companies with this adding the tax into the price and displaying the total on the tags & advertising instead of the base price. Think about a large chain of stores with locations all over the US, where the tags and advertising are made in bulk and then distributed to stores all over the country. Or the stuff is pre-tagged at a central...
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- April Russo (app103)
That's why you abolish state taxes with a single GST
- Bryce Roney
from iPhone
Then what do you do about areas like in depressed parts of NJ where they have a 50% reduction in the taxes to encourage businesses to open shop and create jobs there, and people to go and shop there?
- April Russo (app103)
Japan made it a law that retailer must make it crystal clear if it is with or without. Lots of parentheses after prices now. In japan it's five pct consumption tax everywhere but airlines still play games!
- Rick Cogley
from iPhone
Taxes that are not separated are taxes that are not noticed (and thus, easier to raise). Take a look at gasoline taxes in the US, the amount of which few at the pump could identify if they had to. Keeping them out of the price helps to keep them lower overall.
- Andrew Leyden
If you abolished state and local sales taxes and replaced it with a single GST, wouldn't that mean that in some states that didn't have a sales tax, that consumers would be suddenly paying more? And what gets taxed? Some states would lose money if you remove the tax from some items, while other states consumers would end up paying more because items that were previously exempt from sales tax, now are taxed.
- April Russo (app103)
We need an augmented reality app that can just tell you as you have the camera on the price what the real price is :-) Yes lazy don't want to do my own calculations solution, but sales tax is always stupid % like 7% or 8%
- Rasmus Lauridsen
I liked it better when NJ had a 5% tax. Paid less and it was easy to figure out in your head. Now it's 7% and 3.5% in Urban Enterprise Zones.
- April Russo (app103)
April: that's a fair point; what I'm suggesting would make life harder for retailers, while making it easier for consumers. It's a worthy trade-off, in my opinion. Also, stores that operate in multiple locations already have knowledge about the local tax rules; after all, they need to calculate and remit the taxes to the appropriate authorities; that information now has to end up on labels.
- Tudor Bosman
Although big box stores would probably not be affected. The few big stores I shop at (Safeway, Walgreens, Fry's, Costco, Best Buy) don't have labels on items, but only on the shelves (except for bulk groceries and meats, which are presumably cut, weighed, and labeled in the local store anyway). And they already print different labels for different stores, because of time-limited, regional promotions.
- Tudor Bosman
Rasmus, here the sales tax is 8.25%. To compute this, divide the price by twelve, then subtract 1% of the result.
- Ruchira S. Datta
One part of the reason why they're separate is to prevent double-taxation: the revenue before tax is considered earned income, and is taxed as such, leaving the sales tax collected separate and untaxed. If they're rolled into one price, it's harder to determine if the sales tax was charged, or if the price was simply higher. Additionally, since sales tax is a levy on the consumer, not...
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- Mark Trapp
Taxes and fees are a little over $30 on my cable/internet bill, almost $60 for my water/trash/electricity. It's so depressing to open my bill to see the total, then getting to the bottom of the page or the next page to see all the little extra fees.
- Admiral Anika
Mark: they can be separate on the receipt, and bundled together on the tag. Or display both: (in small font) $35 + $2.89 tax = (big font) $37.89.
- Tudor Bosman
Tudor, the obligation is on the consumer, not the retailer, to pay the levy to the government. One other thing I'm thinking about is there is a subset of the population that's tax exempt or partially tax exempt, and would not pay the big, stated price. So then is it a discount, or was the price incorrectly stated? Is the retailer trying to tax an individual who is exempt? Leaving it up...
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- Mark Trapp
Mark: How is the tax-exempt population dealt with today? Do I go into Walgreens and show some form of ID at the checkout counter, and I don't get charged sales tax? I don't think I've ever seen this happen.
- Tudor Bosman
I know some *items* are tax-exempt (food, and possibly others, depending on locality), but that's not a problem; the store already knows which ones they are, as they levy the tax appropriately.
- Tudor Bosman
Tudor: yeah. You have documentation either on file with the store (or you bring the documentation to the register) that states you're exempt, and you wind up not paying it. NPOs, certain income levels in certain jurisdictions, and public workers in some special cases are all tax-exampt. Having worked with sales tax over the years, it's a hard concept to convey when it all goes into the...
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- Mark Trapp
Sales Tax exemption depends on various local and state laws. Stores deal with it automatically for cases where certain types of items are exempt (like food items in Kentucky are tax-free). Other cases are where items are purchased for resale, in which you generally have to set up an account with the stores in question and file documentation with them of your tax-exempt status. And that...
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- Otto
Thinking about this a little more, I guess the point I'm making is that the government only intercedes after the act of sale: that is, the retailer isn't in business with the government. The setup that exists now is that the retailer controls their business up until the point of sale, where their hand is forced to collect taxes for the government. When you change the advertised price to...
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- Mark Trapp
Mark: I can see your point, although I don't empathize with it :) Maybe it's because I lived outside of the US until 1997, and the system I describe is in use throughout Europe; it was baffling to me to not know exactly how much I have to pay until the register. Two prices on the tag would, I think, satisfy most folks: if you're tax-exempt, you pay the first one, and the second one (including tax) is in a bigger font, simply because that's what most consumers will pay.
- Tudor Bosman
I can't even imagine putting a "costume" on my car. There were even tackier things in the store, but too many people were crowded around them to take pictures.
- Katy S
Ha! Around here people drive around with menorahs on the roof of their cars and each turns on for Hanukkah.
- Admiral Anika
from fftogo
My down the street neighbor has these on her VW Bug. As much as I hate to say this....it's kinda cute.
- suzanne
Speaking of which, one of the Jared's commercials is really creepy. Why would I buy something that would make a car lock me inside?
- John (a.k.a. dendroica)
Disclaimer: No blood diamonds were harmed in the dissing of these jewelers.
- SAM
Aaargh I die a little bit inside every time I see the storm one from Kay. Not that gps that locks you in your car from Jared is better.. Oh and what about the one with that Doc Mike chick with her mom who told her to always keep her heart open *puke*
- Rasmus Lauridsen
from iPhone
Jewelry and perfume ads are awful. :(
- Alix Whitmire
But... but every Kiss begins with Kay! (Actually, I expressed a similar sentiment here last week. They're awful! As are the actors in them!)
- Mark "Godt Nyt Ǻr"
Okay, I just read the other comments in the thread. First, sorry for restating the awful tag line. Second, yes Rasmus! That storm commercial is the one that prompted my ire last week! How could they even show such an awful piece of marketing garbage!
- Mark "Godt Nyt Ǻr"
LOL Andew, oddly enough, this PH is the least greasiest pizza from the chain I've ever had. I mean, like NO grease. I used to work at PH, so I know how they set the pans up. I guess this one doesn't do it that way.
- Admiral Anika
It seems to me that the people who can afford an iphone aren't the people who need pizza discounts.
- Katy S
Anika, then you have a treasure of a PH! Cherish it well.
- Andrew C
Mary - they are Sofft, my first pair but it wont be my last, they are SO comfortable! I bet I wear them once a week
- Bobbi Newman
these are sofft or the black cherry ones are? and what brand is the one that isn't sofft as they're both great!
- Katie
my feets are way too wide for Sofft shoes. grrrrrrr!
- Mary Carmen
the black cherry mary janes are soft, the ones in the initial pictures are clarks
- Bobbi Newman
Clarks and Sofft - two of my favorite brands! :)
- holly
mary - how about clarks? I have 5 pairs of those and love every one of them!
- Bobbi Newman
i've got a couple of pairs of clarks which are very nice, but took a while to break in. also, them coming in 12w is a bit rare :) and i once almost owned a mary jane style sofft shoe. the shoe itself fit, but the strap wouldn't go over my high arch :((
- Katie