Miscellaneous Discussion Thread II

Quote: lilredrooster

.
right now there is another atypical case out there - the disappearance, which most now believe, sadly, is probably yet another unsolved homicide

Nancy Guthrie is 84 and has been missing for about a month

law enforcement - local, State and Federal, have spent a tremendous amount of time, money and resources on the case because she is the mother of a well known TV personality

I have a great deal of sympathy for Ms. Guthrie and her family

but many including myself have to wonder if it's right or fair that law enforcement, who is Governmental, pays so much more attention to some victims because of who they are or who their family is then they do to others

that's just the way of the world

if you're a nobody the cops aren't going to knock themselves out trying to get you justice

.
link to original post

Are the cops paying more attention to Guthrie than other kidnappings, or is the press paying more attention?

Quote: DRich

Based on American assets currently in the Middle East and the current operations by Israel, I would guess we will be bombing Iran in the next three days. Normally, we wait until weekend to limit affect on the stock market but everything I am seeing makes me believe it may be sooner.
link to original post

Your prediction was close enough. It has started

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: lilredrooster

.
right now there is another atypical case out there - the disappearance, which most now believe, sadly, is probably yet another unsolved homicide

Nancy Guthrie is 84 and has been missing for about a month

law enforcement - local, State and Federal, have spent a tremendous amount of time, money and resources on the case because she is the mother of a well known TV personality

I have a great deal of sympathy for Ms. Guthrie and her family

but many including myself have to wonder if it's right or fair that law enforcement, who is Governmental, pays so much more attention to some victims because of who they are or who their family is then they do to others

that's just the way of the world

if you're a nobody the cops aren't going to knock themselves out trying to get you justice

.
link to original post

Are the cops paying more attention to Guthrie than other kidnappings, or is the press paying more attention?
link to original post

"AI Overview

The investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has generated an intensive, multi-agency response

Intense Law Enforcement Focus: The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI have conducted a major, sustained search, including the use of canine teams ($10,000) and helicopter searches ($10,000–$15,000), notes a report detailing typical high-cost investigative techniques.

Disparity in Attention: Observers have noted that this level of resources is not typical for most missing persons cases, fueling discussions about how celebrity connections and public interest can influence law enforcement efforts."

.

Quote: avianrandy

I always thought howard Johnson's was a hotel chain. Tonight they were talking about it being a restaurant and their 28 flavors of ice cream. I know Baskin Robbins had 31 flavors lol
link to original post

It was both. Restaurant first then added motor lodges. The restaurant I'm told was glorified TV dinners, just heated. HoJos had the turnpikes sewed up early and the service was awful since you had no choice. After about 1980 they moved to other concepts, I think they owned Ground Round. Little by little the classic orange roof places disappeared. Last one was in Lake George, NY. Rachel Ray worked that one IIRC.

As a kid, going to HoJo's was an occasional treat. As a HS senior with open campus privileges, the nearby HoJo's was a magnet. There were none near my college, but they were a regular part of spring break. The one in the next town over was featured in a movie starring Sean Connery and Dustin Hoffman.

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: lilredrooster

.
right now there is another atypical case out there - the disappearance, which most now believe, sadly, is probably yet another unsolved homicide

Nancy Guthrie is 84 and has been missing for about a month

law enforcement - local, State and Federal, have spent a tremendous amount of time, money and resources on the case because she is the mother of a well known TV personality

I have a great deal of sympathy for Ms. Guthrie and her family

but many including myself have to wonder if it's right or fair that law enforcement, who is Governmental, pays so much more attention to some victims because of who they are or who their family is then they do to others

that's just the way of the world

if you're a nobody the cops aren't going to knock themselves out trying to get you justice

.
link to original post

Are the cops paying more attention to Guthrie than other kidnappings, or is the press paying more attention?
link to original post

"AI Overview

The investigation into the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has generated an intensive, multi-agency response

Intense Law Enforcement Focus: The Pima County Sheriff's Department and the FBI have conducted a major, sustained search, including the use of canine teams ($10,000) and helicopter searches ($10,000–$15,000), notes a report detailing typical high-cost investigative techniques.

Disparity in Attention: Observers have noted that this level of resources is not typical for most missing persons cases, fueling discussions about how celebrity connections and public interest can influence law enforcement efforts."

.
link to original post

I will tell you this, that a few days ago during the blizzard a man in town went missing. The cops went all out trying to find him, including calling in the state police search helicopter. Tragically, they found him a day later, dead in a snowbank. Around here, we take missing persons reports seriously, and reports of kidnapping even more so.

There used to be Howard Johnson's restaurants on the NYS Thruway 60 years ago, but they disappeared in the early '70's. I think my family ate there once or twice on a road trip. They were finicky eaters, or price averse, and would rather have us eat sandwiches from home from a cooler in the car. We usually had a pet in the car, so leaving a pet alone in the car while visiting the restaurant for 90 minutes would be wrong.

Google AI had this to say about them.
The last operating Howard Johnson's restaurant, known for its orange roof and famous 28 flavors of ice cream, closed in Lake George, New York, in March 2022. At its peak in the 1960s and 1970s, the chain boasted nearly 1,000 locations. Popular for families, the menu featured fried clams, clam chowder, frankfurters, and ice cream.

Decline in Popularity
Competition: Increased competition from modern chains like Friendly’s, Applebee’s, and Chili’s.
Changing Travel: The rise of faster, more affordable air travel diminished the road-trip, family-restaurant crowd.
Failed Updates: The company failed to modernize its menu and infrastructure, making it difficult to maintain relevance.
Separation from Lodging: The restaurants were separated from the hotel brand (which still operates under Wyndham) in 1986.

Menu Highlights
Ice Cream: Famously touted 28 flavors.
Signature Dishes: Fried clam strips, clam chowder, mac and cheese, frankfurters, and grilled chicken.
Specials: Known for the "All You Can Eat Fish Fry".

Historical Peak
During the 1960s-70s, it was the largest restaurant chain in the U.S., with approximately 1,000 restaurants and 500 motor lodges.
It was a pioneer in consistent, standardized roadside dining and franchising.
****************************************************************************************

Nowadays there's Shake Shack, Chick-fil-A, Popeyes, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Burger King, Dunkin' Donuts, Applegreen Convenience Store & car charging stations and others at the rest stops.

Please be advised that Thruway Authority Service Areas are not designed for long term parking or multiple day stays. Unattended vehicles left in service areas for more than 4 hours are subject to being towed at owner’s expense. For assistance call 1-800-842-2233.
https://www.thruway.ny.gov/travelers/service-areas

Different rest stops have different restaurants. I'll have to click the link to look them up.
Sunoco Gas is provided. I never stop at Sunoco and I don't know if they have 93 octane gas.

I used to buy a lot of candy for those road trips as a kid. The trips would only be 6+ hours. I'd bring my pillow to sleep on. I never wore a seat belt in the back seat.
I think I remember having to use the Thruway gas station garage to get the car fixed. I don't know if those garages still exist.

Quote: lilredrooster

.
right now there is another atypical case out there - the disappearance, which most now believe, sadly, is probably yet another unsolved homicide

Nancy Guthrie is 84 and has been missing for about a month
...

if you're a nobody the cops aren't going to knock themselves out trying to get you justice

.
link to original post

On the other hand, if you're a nobody the chances of you being kidnapped and held for ransom are near zero. So it's understandable why they would want to send an unmistakable message to those who would consider doing that, that they will be prioritized over other types of cases.

.
let's get off the kidnapping and ransoming thing for a minute

do you think the cops make a great effort to get justice for a victim when there is a murder in the projects - ?

not a chance

but if it's a middle class or well off person in the suburbs - it's a whole different story


"AI Overview

Data analysis and research indicate that, in many U.S. cities, homicides in low-income, predominantly Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods (often described as "slums" or high-poverty areas) are solved at significantly lower rates than in other areas. While police departments often maintain that they treat all cases equally, studies show a major disparity in clearance rates, leading to a higher rate of "murders with impunity" in these communities.

Here is a breakdown of the evidence and factors influencing this trend:

Disparities in Clearance Rates: Investigations have shown that cases with Black and Hispanic victims, particularly those involving gun violence, have seen a drop in clearance rates (the percentage of cases resulting in an arrest) of more than 20 percentage points since the 1980s. In some cities, the rate of solving murders for Black victims is significantly lower than for white victims.

Ultimately, the lower clearance rates in these areas contribute to a perception—and in many cases, the reality—that murders in low-income, minority-dominated neighborhoods are not prioritized with the same intensity as those in more affluent areas."

.

I had a friend who worked Homicide in Queens for a few years. He said there were days when he'd have three bodies waiting for him, and weeks where they'd be no bodies. Most times, they barely had a few hours to work a case before the next body came in. Of course, that was in the early 90s when NYC had 2,000 murders a year, now it is down to around 500, so the cops have more time on their hands.
Nassau County, which is next door to Queens,with a population of 1.4 million, had 15 murders in 2024. Queens County has a population of 2.4 million and had 49 murders in 2024

Quote: lilredrooster

.
let's get off the kidnapping and ransoming thing for a minute

do you think the cops make a great effort to get justice for a victim when there is a murder in the projects - ?

not a chance

but if it's a middle class or well off person in the suburbs - it's a whole different story


"AI Overview

Data analysis and research indicate that, in many U.S. cities, homicides in low-income, predominantly Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods (often described as "slums" or high-poverty areas) are solved at significantly lower rates than in other areas. While police departments often maintain that they treat all cases equally, studies show a major disparity in clearance rates, leading to a higher rate of "murders with impunity" in these communities.

Here is a breakdown of the evidence and factors influencing this trend:

Disparities in Clearance Rates: Investigations have shown that cases with Black and Hispanic victims, particularly those involving gun violence, have seen a drop in clearance rates (the percentage of cases resulting in an arrest) of more than 20 percentage points since the 1980s. In some cities, the rate of solving murders for Black victims is significantly lower than for white victims.

Ultimately, the lower clearance rates in these areas contribute to a perception—and in many cases, the reality—that murders in low-income, minority-dominated neighborhoods are not prioritized with the same intensity as those in more affluent areas."

.
link to original post

It's not so much a matter of black or White, but a matter of "innocent victim" vs. "guilty victim."

Those who are victimized by violence outside of the home (domestic violence and child abuse are a different category) have more often than not done something inadvisable themselves to get into a situation where they became a target. Being in a gang, fraternizing with gang members, contact with the drug trade, aggression towards any person. Those are the things that get you killed when you live in the projects. Avoiding The Things will protect you more effectively than any cop. This is why the cops would rather not expend all of their resources protecting or bringing justice for those who insist on doing The Things.

Those who live in affluent suburbs and do The Things also make themselves targets, but the point is few of them do that. That they have better judgment than to look for trouble is why they can afford to live there and not in the projects. Good habits bring success, bad habits immiserate. So a young girl who gets randomly carjacked, raped and murdered coming back from the mall is not going to be seen the same way as the guy who got shot after waving a pistol at some guys who were making gang signs down on the corner. Protecting people from the consequences of their own actions is very inefficient and being all resources are limited, more people can be helped by expending them on the populations who want to be helped and don't obstinately make things worse for themselves, with their bad habits.

Quote: lilredrooster

.
let's get off the kidnapping and ransoming thing for a minute

do you think the cops make a great effort to get justice for a victim when there is a murder in the projects - ?

not a chance

but if it's a middle class or well off person in the suburbs - it's a whole different story


"AI Overview

Data analysis and research indicate that, in many U.S. cities, homicides in low-income, predominantly Black, and Hispanic neighborhoods (often described as "slums" or high-poverty areas) are solved at significantly lower rates than in other areas. While police departments often maintain that they treat all cases equally, studies show a major disparity in clearance rates, leading to a higher rate of "murders with impunity" in these communities.

Here is a breakdown of the evidence and factors influencing this trend:

Disparities in Clearance Rates: Investigations have shown that cases with Black and Hispanic victims, particularly those involving gun violence, have seen a drop in clearance rates (the percentage of cases resulting in an arrest) of more than 20 percentage points since the 1980s. In some cities, the rate of solving murders for Black victims is significantly lower than for white victims.

Ultimately, the lower clearance rates in these areas contribute to a perception—and in many cases, the reality—that murders in low-income, minority-dominated neighborhoods are not prioritized with the same intensity as those in more affluent areas."

.
link to original post

I'd advocated for the idea of a news service that prioritized news not by sensationalism, but actual amount of harm x number of people harmed. Wishing doesn't make it happen I guess. Even still, it's going to be somewhat subjective and sometimes controversial, but it'd still be better than what we have now.

It'd likely have to be government funded, because like it or not people won't pay if it's not sensational. But it should still exist.

Kentucky had a major snowstorm this week. A family worked together to build a nine-foot snowman, using a tree stump as a base. Hours after it was finished, a local in a pickup truck decided to run over it. The result was over $10,000 in front-end work.
Frosty don't play.

No link to this story?

Quote: KevinAA

No link to this story?
link to original post

not hard to find, but it was 2019

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/giant-kentucky-snowman-gives-would-be-vandal-dose-of-instant-karma .

Quote: odiousgambit

Quote: KevinAA

No link to this story?
link to original post

not hard to find, but it was 2019

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/giant-kentucky-snowman-gives-would-be-vandal-dose-of-instant-karma .
link to original post

2019? That's interesting, as the news blurb I saw was under current stories on a Facebook channel. Thanks, I'll have to check those dates now, as well.

So, aside from the shootings by Alec Baldwin and of Brandon Lee and Hexum, before all that, what is the stupidest thing to ever happen on a movie set?

This is my choice:


Apparently Rip Torn was stoked up on coke, and if Norman Mailer was working sober that day, it would have been a first for him. They both break the Fourth Wall throughout, the camera crew's equipment is visible at times, yet they manage to capture it all with professional quality cinematography. Mailer's real life wife and children were present and in the film, and they along with apparently some other production staff eventually come around and try to break it up, which they eventually do, and the movie goes on.

This was in 1970. People in this field back then were just as screwed up as they are now. They just practiced it more artfully.

Quote: gordonm888

...I asked a judge I know about this. He told me that no one wants to conduct a trial for rape - - it's a terrible experience for the victim and their family. And the court system is overloaded. So defense attorneys all learn to plea bargain the case down to sexual assault - a shorter prison term...
link to original post

Depends on your state's statutes. I don't think the word "rape" appears in Wisconsin's statutes.

It's all sexual assault, 1st thru 4th degree.

Quote: Calder

Quote: gordonm888

...I asked a judge I know about this. He told me that no one wants to conduct a trial for rape - - it's a terrible experience for the victim and their family. And the court system is overloaded. So defense attorneys all learn to plea bargain the case down to sexual assault - a shorter prison term...
link to original post

Depends on your state's statutes. I don't think the word "rape" appears in Wisconsin's statutes.

It's all sexual assault, 1st thru 4th degree.
link to original post

The state of South Carolina has an unforgettably delightful way of referring to certain crimes in this category...

https://law.justia.com/codes/south-carolina/title-16/chapter-15/section-16-15-120/

I think they're the only US state that still calls it that, and they speak of it by its full name in the statute- "the Abominable Crime of..."

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

.
link to original post

It's not so much a matter of black or White, but a matter of "innocent victim" vs. "guilty victim."

Those who are victimized by violence outside of the home (domestic violence and child abuse are a different category) have more often than not done something inadvisable themselves to get into a situation where they became a target. Being in a gang, fraternizing with gang members, contact with the drug trade, aggression towards any person. Those are the things that get you killed when you live in the projects. Avoiding The Things will protect you more effectively than any cop. This is why the cops would rather not expend all of their resources protecting or bringing justice for those who insist on doing The Things.

Those who live in affluent suburbs and do The Things also make themselves targets, but the point is few of them do that. That they have better judgment than to look for trouble is why they can afford to live there and not in the projects. Good habits bring success, bad habits immiserate. So a young girl who gets randomly carjacked, raped and murdered coming back from the mall is not going to be seen the same way as the guy who got shot after waving a pistol at some guys who were making gang signs down on the corner. Protecting people from the consequences of their own actions is very inefficient and being all resources are limited, more people can be helped by expending them on the populations who want to be helped and don't obstinately make things worse for themselves, with their bad habits.
link to original post

All those people in the Epstein files have "good habits". I would rather the police prosecute them also.

Just read an article on Yahoo where Charles Barkley won 700k playing blackjack and tipped the dealer 25k. Something like a 3.75 % tip the article said.

Quote: avianrandy

Just read an article on Yahoo where Charles Barkley won 700k playing blackjack and tipped the dealer 25k. Something like a 3.75 % tip the article said.
link to original post

In professional tennis or chess you don't tip your adversary when you win. It's strange that people assume that one should tip your adversary in gambling.

The dealer is a salaried employee of the casino, which is your adversary. If you counter by saying that the dealer is low-paid and essentially neutral to whether you win or lose then one might as well tip the pit boss and security staff and the homeless people puking on the sidewalk outside the casino. And the staff who help you get a driver's license at the motor vehicle bureau.

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: avianrandy

Just read an article on Yahoo where Charles Barkley won 700k playing blackjack and tipped the dealer 25k. Something like a 3.75 % tip the article said.
link to original post

In professional tennis or chess you don't tip your adversary when you win. It's strange that people assume that one should tip your adversary in gambling.

The dealer is a salaried employee of the casino, which is your adversary. If you counter by saying that the dealer is low-paid and essentially neutral to whether you win or lose then one might as well tip the pit boss and security staff and the homeless people puking on the sidewalk outside the casino. And the staff who help you get a driver's license at the motor vehicle bureau.
link to original post

The casino is your adversary, not the dealer. The pit boss is management, part of the casino.

Quote: avianrandy

Just read an article on Yahoo where Charles Barkley won 700k playing blackjack and tipped the dealer 25k. Something like a 3.75 % tip the article said.
link to original post

I saw that article, too. It said that Barkley says he normally tips 20% to servers, cabbies, etc. The gist of that part of the article (or at least the clickbait headline I saw) was that it was 'cheap' of him to only tip 3.75%.

However, since the tip for a meal, cab ride, haircut, etc., is typically based on the total bill, for an apples-to-apples comparison, the tip to a dealer should be calculated based on theoretical loss, not the amount of the win. Knowing that he typically bets big, and depending on the number of hands he played, a theoretical loss of 125k may be reasonable, making his tip in line with what he usually tips folks in the service industry.

Not good to hear Sir Charles is gambling, considering his past problems with it

Quote: AZDuffman

The casino is your adversary, not the dealer. The pit boss is management, part of the casino.
link to original post

In BJ and many table games you are playing against the dealer. The dealer sweeps your chips into the house when you lose. His actions are rule-based but he is very much following the rules that the casino has given to him.

Contrast the BJ dealer to the dealer in the poker room: the poker game dealer is not your adversary.

Imagine a wrestling match or MMA match in which the winner tips the adversary.

Quote: gordonm888

Imagine a wrestling match or MMA match in which the winner tips the adversary.
link to original post

It would still be odd for the winner to pay the referee's salary as a commission from their prize.

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: AZDuffman

The casino is your adversary, not the dealer. The pit boss is management, part of the casino.
link to original post

In BJ and many table games you are playing against the dealer. The dealer sweeps your chips into the house when you lose. His actions are rule-based but he is very much following the rules that the casino has given to him.

Contrast the BJ dealer to the dealer in the poker room: the poker game dealer is not your adversary.

Imagine a wrestling match or MMA match in which the winner tips the adversary.
link to original post

The casino is a faceless corporation (or privately-held entity) and has no ability to sweep chips into the tray when you lose, or take chips out of tray to pay you when you win. They need employees to do that. Those employees depend on tips for their income.

Some players tip for the dealers prior to the hand being dealt, some people tip the dealers after a win, or at the end of the rotation, and some people do not tip at all.

If you would prefer the cards to be dealt to you by an entity who has no need for tips, feel free to play electronic blackjack. A good dealer in a live table game will engage with the players, not just for fun in a minimum wage job, but for the hope of earning tips.

It is the entertainment industry. If you only think of it as an "adversary" then maybe you should select a different hobby.

Quote: KevinAA

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: AZDuffman

The casino is your adversary, not the dealer. The pit boss is management, part of the casino.
link to original post

In BJ and many table games you are playing against the dealer. The dealer sweeps your chips into the house when you lose. His actions are rule-based but he is very much following the rules that the casino has given to him.

Contrast the BJ dealer to the dealer in the poker room: the poker game dealer is not your adversary.

Imagine a wrestling match or MMA match in which the winner tips the adversary.
link to original post

The casino is a faceless corporation (or privately-held entity) and has no ability to sweep chips into the tray when you lose, or take chips out of tray to pay you when you win. They need employees to do that. Those employees depend on tips for their income.

Some players tip for the dealers prior to the hand being dealt, some people tip the dealers after a win, or at the end of the rotation, and some people do not tip at all.

If you would prefer the cards to be dealt to you by an entity who has no need for tips, feel free to play electronic blackjack. A good dealer in a live table game will engage with the players, not just for fun in a minimum wage job, but for the hope of earning tips.

It is the entertainment industry. If you only think of it as an "adversary" then maybe you should select a different hobby.
link to original post

For some of us, this is not a hobby. But I tip because I believe tipped employees should be tipped, and because everybody knows counters never tip.

The dealer is not necessarily an adversary in a table game. They can be, but more often they have an opportunity to be an ally. I can socially engineer them into dealing faster, deeper pen, or revealing information. Tipping is one of several tools that are used for that.

As far as tipping an actual adversary, in some communities that is considered very insulting (That's how Wild Bill Hikkok was shot. He took all of a drunk's money playing poker, and he gave him back enough to get something to eat which infuriated the drunk.) but in other environments like street ball it's considered a sign of being a gracious winner.

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: AZDuffman

The casino is your adversary, not the dealer. The pit boss is management, part of the casino.
link to original post

In BJ and many table games you are playing against the dealer. The dealer sweeps your chips into the house when you lose. His actions are rule-based but he is very much following the rules that the casino has given to him.

Contrast the BJ dealer to the dealer in the poker room: the poker game dealer is not your adversary.

Imagine a wrestling match or MMA match in which the winner tips the adversary.
link to original post

The dealer is an agent for the house. You are playing against the house. The dealer does not get paid more for a winning night.

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: gordonm888

Quote: AZDuffman

The casino is your adversary, not the dealer. The pit boss is management, part of the casino.
link to original post

In BJ and many table games you are playing against the dealer. The dealer sweeps your chips into the house when you lose. His actions are rule-based but he is very much following the rules that the casino has given to him.

Contrast the BJ dealer to the dealer in the poker room: the poker game dealer is not your adversary.

Imagine a wrestling match or MMA match in which the winner tips the adversary.
link to original post

The dealer is an agent for the house. You are playing against the house. The dealer does not get paid more for a winning night.
link to original post

Volunteers make far less than dealers of table games; they make nothing. When you vote, do you tip the volunteers who are manning the polls? If you don't tip them, then why are you tipping salaried dealers?

If you are having tests done in a hospital and a volunteer escorts you from one medical station to another medical station, do you tip them? they have provided personal service to you far more than casino dealers do, and they are unpaid.

Casino corporations are conducting what is a muti-billion dollar business with huge profits. If they chose to underpay casino dealers then they are despicable. Why are you obligated to tip the employees of a mega-casino that is reaping enormous profits?

Tipping dealers who are your adversaries in your wagers on BJ and table games goes outside of the bounds of normal societal behavior. It is sheep-like behavior that amounts to self-destructive folly (unless you are an AP who is seeking some advantage by influencing the dealer.)

Quote: gordonm888

Tipping dealers who are your ADVERSARIES in your wagers on BJ and table games goes outside of the bounds of normal societal behavior. It is sheep-like behavior that amounts to self-destructive folly

dealers are not adversaries
they don't win when you lose
they don't lose when you win

Quote: gordonm888

Volunteers make far less than dealers of table games; they make nothing. When you vote, do you tip the volunteers who are manning the polls? If you don't tip them, then why are you tipping salaried dealers?

it's customary to tip waiters or waitresses who bring food and or drink to our tables who are also paid by restaurants
and we tip cab drivers (the few who are still around) and reports are out there that some tip Uber drivers even though they profit from the fares alone
UPS and Amazon drivers generally don't get tips
but many tip Post Office carriers during the Holidays - and they are Federal employees

there's no real rhyme or reason to it - it's just the way it is

it's just the way customs have evolved

"AI Overview

Percentage: Surveys indicate about 27-31% of people tip their mail carriers."

.

It is probably illegal to give anything to poll volunteers, as it is definitely illegal for them to give anything to voters. Also in health care there are ethical rules as to who can accept what from a patient. Giving money to a hospital chaplain of any faith is always acceptable. Tipping an entertainer, or a non-care volunteer like a Candy Striper would be acceptable too, although giving money or gifts to minors has its own "appearance of impropriety" problem.

I'm an American and tipping is part of my culture, so I do it. I use deodorant, I like guns, and I tip. Even when I go to other countries I tip like an American. Look, if they're going to come to America, dump in the street and beat their wives like they do in their country, I'm going to go to their country and tip like I do in America. And if they have a problem with that I tell them not to be so xenophobic, try a little cultural diversity.

Most poll workers are paid. They undergo training and are usually split between parties.

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

I think this needs to be moved to the Mandela Effect thread, for as surely as the girl had braces, you did not read of lasers in 1957!

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

No they aren't. Assuming they aren't making it up - which they have a long history of verifiably doing with anti missile tech going back to Gulf War I, the stated range is about 10km and the utility is confined to drones and mortar fire, no one has claimed it works on ballistic missiles.

The tech is basically useless in most conditions. You can only fire at one target at a time so it would be overwhelmed by multiple rockets/drones etc. And it doesn't work with dust clouds so if one rocket etc gets through that makes the laser completely useless.

The capital cost of manufacture, infrastructure and maintenance of these things runs into hundreds of millions of dollars, the cost per shot is accurate but very misleading as a headline figure.

It should be added that despite how visually striking rockets/mortar attacks are they barely exist as a form of mortality statistically. Rockets have never killed more than about 30 people in any given year in Israel whereas around 450 died last year from road deaths. If any one were actually concerned with saving lives they'd spend the money on road safety or better still, healthcare.

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: gordonm888

Tipping dealers who are your ADVERSARIES in your wagers on BJ and table games goes outside of the bounds of normal societal behavior. It is sheep-like behavior that amounts to self-destructive folly

dealers are not adversaries
they don't win when you lose
they don't lose when you win

Quote: gordonm888

Volunteers make far less than dealers of table games; they make nothing. When you vote, do you tip the volunteers who are manning the polls? If you don't tip them, then why are you tipping salaried dealers?

it's customary to tip waiters or waitresses who bring food and or drink to our tables who are also paid by restaurants
and we tip cab drivers (the few who are still around) and reports are out there that some tip Uber drivers even though they profit from the fares alone
UPS and Amazon drivers generally don't get tips
but many tip Post Office carriers during the Holidays - and they are Federal employees

there's no real rhyme or reason to it - it's just the way it is

it's just the way customs have evolved

"AI Overview

Percentage: Surveys indicate about 27-31% of people tip their mail carriers."

.
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Yes, I tip all those people (except postal workers) and I give a seasonal tip in December to my garbagemen. I tip haircutters and masseuses. But all those occupations are providing personal service to me. I don't tip bank clerks - why should we tip the slot attendant in the casino who presents us with our jackpot winnings?

I understand that tipping in a casino is customary - but why should it be? So much in our society and culture is changing (and changing rapidly.) The corporations that operate casinos are bloodsucking predators with enormous revenue and a "house advantage" over their clientele. - why should they pay their employees less than a living wage? Why should a blue-collar gambler tip the people who are grinding his bones into dust with predatory games?

Some Gen Zers are now not tipping waiters -or are tipping very low, like 5%. Because they are asking "Why are we doing this?" The world is changing. And I'm asking "Why are we doing this?" about tipping casino employees.

What service do dealers provide. A smile?

The casino doesn't want customers run off for not tipping, nor would they wish the game to be slowed down to punish a non-tipping customer? And if you catch the dealer doing something wrong, just report them to the casino.

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

I think this needs to be moved to the Mandela Effect thread, for as surely as the girl had braces, you did not read of lasers in 1957!
link to original post

I was off by one year. It was in the science section of Boys Life Magazine

1958: Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow publish a paper describing the "optical maser" (laser).

Quote: DougGander

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

No they aren't. Assuming they aren't making it up - which they have a long history of verifiably doing with anti missile tech going back to Gulf War I, the stated range is about 10km and the utility is confined to drones and mortar fire, no one has claimed it works on ballistic missiles.

The tech is basically useless in most conditions. You can only fire at one target at a time so it would be overwhelmed by multiple rockets/drones etc. And it doesn't work with dust clouds so if one rocket etc gets through that makes the laser completely useless.

The capital cost of manufacture, infrastructure and maintenance of these things runs into hundreds of millions of dollars, the cost per shot is accurate but very misleading as a headline figure.

It should be added that despite how visually striking rockets/mortar attacks are they barely exist as a form of mortality statistically. Rockets have never killed more than about 30 people in any given year in Israel whereas around 450 died last year from road deaths. If any one were actually concerned with saving lives they'd spend the money on road safety or better still, healthcare.
link to original post

\]

"The Iron Beam (Hebrew: Or Eitan), developed by Rafael Advanced
Defense Systems, is a 100kW+ ground-based, high-energy laser
defense system designed to destroy short-range rockets, mortars,
and drones within seconds. It acts as a cost-effective,
unlimited-magazine complement to the Iron Dome, using directed
energy to intercept targets."

On 28 May 2025, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems announced the world's first-ever combat use of high-power laser systems to intercept aerial threats. The engagements happened in October 2024 during the Gaza War; 40 Hezbollah UAVs were intercepted.

Quote: rxwine

What service do dealers provide. A smile?

The casino doesn't want customers run off for not tipping, nor would they wish the game to be slowed down to punish a non-tipping customer? And if you catch the dealer doing something wrong, just report them to the casino.
link to original post

There was a surprising amount of flexibility back when I played blackjack. Before the notch became common out here, I'd toke for a "lucky" cut where it looked like we'd get plenty of hands in before the next shuffle. It's probably still valuable to toke now and then to encourage the dealer to keep the tempo exciting, and not pause the game to tell stories about how his brother-in-law's cat snuck out and dragged back a possum carcass. (The punch line was great, but not worth stopping the game for 4 minutes.)

I'm presently of the opinion that if your game can't fade a few tokes, you don't have a profitable game. Others are welcome to their own opinions.

I was trying to guess how much gold in volume I’d need to have to replace my entire net worth. I was shocked to find out how small a cube I’d need! If I was worth $2.5 BILLION. (I’m not!!!) it would take approximately how many cubic yards?






ONE!!!!!

Quote: SOOPOO

I was trying to guess how much gold in volume I’d need to have to replace my entire net worth. I was shocked to find out how small a cube I’d need! If I was worth $2.5 BILLION. (I’m not!!!) it would take approximately how many cubic yards?

ONE!!!!!
link to original post

That's bigger than you think. Let's say you were worth $22.5B, which isn't too extreme in the world of billionaires, and you put "the whole 9 yards" in a ready-mix concrete truck.

Stand next to such a truck and imagine what it would take to harm it. But the weight of that much gold would surely destroy the truck as gold is 8 times as dense as concrete.

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

I think this needs to be moved to the Mandela Effect thread, for as surely as the girl had braces, you did not read of lasers in 1957!
link to original post

I was off by one year. It was in the science section of Boys Life Magazine

1958: Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow publish a paper describing the "optical maser" (laser).
link to original post

That 1958 article was where I learned that laser stands for light amplification by the stimulation of emissions of radiation. For some reason that has stuck with me all my life.

Quote: Dieter

Quote: rxwine

What service do dealers provide. A smile?

The casino doesn't want customers run off for not tipping, nor would they wish the game to be slowed down to punish a non-tipping customer? And if you catch the dealer doing something wrong, just report them to the casino.
link to original post

There was a surprising amount of flexibility back when I played blackjack. Before the notch became common out here, I'd toke for a "lucky" cut where it looked like we'd get plenty of hands in before the next shuffle. It's probably still valuable to toke now and then to encourage the dealer to keep the tempo exciting, and not pause the game to tell stories about how his brother-in-law's cat snuck out and dragged back a possum carcass. (The punch line was great, but not worth stopping the game for 4 minutes.)

I'm presently of the opinion that if your game can't fade a few tokes, you don't have a profitable game. Others are welcome to their own opinions.
link to original post

Before I started playing in casinos the word "toke" meant only one thing to me, and when I heard the word being used in a casino (long before it was legal anywhere) I am thinking "Oh no, surely they are not going to torch up in here! This probably shouldn't be discussed openly."

As far as tipping:

I play cards for money.
The money is so I can live life on my terms.
Not grudging tips to employees who traditionally are tipped is one of the terms I choose.

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

As far as tipping:

I play cards for money.
The money is so I can live life on my terms.
Not grudging tips to employees who traditionally are tipped is one of the terms I choose.
link to original post

I play roulette for money online. I always tip when I'm in a real Casino but online it never even occurs to me even though there's a tipping button. I think it's because in the casino you kind of have a personal relationship with the dealer and online he has no idea who you are or that you're even betting.

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

I think this needs to be moved to the Mandela Effect thread, for as surely as the girl had braces, you did not read of lasers in 1957!
link to original post

I was off by one year. It was in the science section of Boys Life Magazine

1958: Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow publish a paper describing the "optical maser" (laser).
link to original post

That 1958 article was where I learned that laser stands for light amplification by the stimulation of emissions of radiation. For some reason that has stuck with me all my life.
link to original post

That gets me curious- when did "ray guns" of any kind begin appearing in science fiction? I think it might have been before the invention of the laser or maser, but I could be wrong. How the heck could anyone have predicted a device that produces a directed, collimated beam of electromagnetic energy with destructive potential? There is the classical reference to burning an invading fleet with sunlight reflected from shields but that's not really the same.

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: EvenBob

Quote: AutomaticMonkey

Quote: EvenBob

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the laser beam was in 1957 in an issue of Boys Life Magazine. I was 8 years old and I was hugely impressed that this is going to be used as a weapon. Here we are 70 years later and it's finally being used in a weapon by Israel. They are shooting missiles out of the sky with laser beams. The cost of each shot by the laser is $3 to $5. Say what?
link to original post

I think this needs to be moved to the Mandela Effect thread, for as surely as the girl had braces, you did not read of lasers in 1957!
link to original post

I was off by one year. It was in the science section of Boys Life Magazine

1958: Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow publish a paper describing the "optical maser" (laser).
link to original post

That 1958 article was where I learned that laser stands for light amplification by the stimulation of emissions of radiation. For some reason that has stuck with me all my life.
link to original post

That gets me curious- when did "ray guns" of any kind begin appearing in science fiction? I think it might have been before the invention of the laser or maser, but I could be wrong. How the heck could anyone have predicted a device that produces a directed, collimated beam of electromagnetic energy with destructive potential? There is the classical reference to burning an invading fleet with sunlight reflected from shields but that's not really the same.
link to original post

Ray weapons first appeared in War of the Worlds in 1898 and were frequently used in Buck Rogers books in the 1920s. I would imagine the idea comes from somehow shooting electricity out of a device. In 1900 electricity was the wonder of the world.

Tom Swift and his Electric Rifle would have been around 1911.