PSA
 

When I used to travel frequently, I had people clean. It's so much less weird than you think.

The first time they came, I had cleaned a bit, but I had dropped cash out of my wallet on the way out the door. (The concierge let them in.) When I came home, I found all of my money stacked neatly in a pile on the bar.

I have friends whose full-time housekeepers also cook before they leave. To me, that is too weird.

PSA
 

I just flashed back to the shaggy orange carpeting of my 1970s youth. :eek:

any Big Brother watchers?
 

Here's another reality tv politician --

Another former reality TV star is trying to enter public service: Big Brother's Will Mega, New Black Panther Party member and now graduate student, is running for Philadelphia city council, SurvivorSucks noticed. His mission statement says "now is the time for militant organization, agitation and action. We are at a crossroads." It also details his thoughts in a section titled "What we want" and in an open letter to city residents, and his platform outlines his positions on and plans for ethics, education, employment/entrepreneurs, equality, and car insurance. In These Times reports that Will "is attempting to galvanize that city's hip hop generation around his bid for a seat on the City Council."

You can also check out willmega.com if you are interested. I didn't watch the show, so it means nothing to me.

Isn't "not as careful" sort of like being dumb?
 

There are people who will do this with you for an hourly or flat fee. I think some personal shoppers will, and maybe professional organizers.

Dining Hall?
 

Seriously (not really), I want to open a dining hall in a highly congested urban area where 22-25 yr olds live (Wrigleyville in Chicago for example). One could get a dining hall debit card and everything. It would be just like college. In fact, I would wager that SOME young 'uns would be able to convince theire parents to pay for it (I'll just cook Ramen instead mom - don't you want me to eat a balanced meal?). Chicken patties would be flowing. Unlimited soft-serve ice cream. There would be alternative (i.e., healthy) dishes as well. What busy young person wouldn't LOVE this? Let's see, should I cook, or walk across the street to the dining hall where the food is decent and other people my age are hanging out? Eat and socialize before going out on the town. And you get your vegetables. And chicken patties!

kicking a man when he's down
 

Whatever you say, Big Pun.

not7yS

Isn't "not as careful" sort of like being dumb?
 

My SO's friend specializes in closets.

I could have saved 9 bucks
 

Yes, but can you do it with Arye Gross, too?

Actually, the above musing about Ellen is currently competing with the "only one breast needs to be big" for Most Incisive Observation on the FB Today. Watching it in its last two years was a fucking chore, but I felt obligated to do it because of its social relevance --- what a bust that turned out to be. Ellen does pretty good non-nasty standup, but she's not the female Bob Newhart, which is what the TV execs were trying to push.

Dining Hall?
 

I'm with ya, Coltrane..... $$$$$$$$$. Only with booze.

Tuesday Reality Rap-up
 

AMERICAN JUNIORS:

The Judges: I can't believe Guarini is the most interesting judge. Deborah (don't call me Debbie) Gibson has perfected the not-so-difficult-skill of saying something nice about the way they look, and their family, and not mentioning the singing. On the whole though, they refrained from skewering the contestants.

The Contestants: Does having the name A.J. just make you a lock for a boy-band? A.J. Melendez blew everyone away last night with his "Isn't She Lovely." Katelyn who went last was also quite good, as was Danielle White, who got a standing O from the judges. I think the other two spots are going to be tight between Kristinia, Tyler and Grace. I think the two black boys are in trouble, as is no-style Julie with the mega-bangs and the god-awful floral print who sang Rainy Days and Mondays. Ecch. She was sabotaged by bad advice, probably from her loser mom who loves Linda Ronstadt. Kara is also probably in some trouble, though she might squeek in. A.J., Katelyn and Danielle were the standouts though, no doubt.

LAST COMIC STANDING:

I didn't see last week, but I was very pleasantly surprised by last night's show. I saw Ralphie, the 400 pounder, open up for Jay Mohr. That night was the funniest comedy show I've ever seen, and Ralphie contributed heavily to that. He did this bit about Jack in the Box in the 'hood that I'll never forget involving "a Jumbo Jack for my baby mama and a shout out to the fry guy." He was very good last night. I can't believe they took stupid spiky haired girl and left off the girl who talked about going to India.

Anyways, should be a good show.

any Big Brother watchers?
 

First guy kicked off the first Big Brother. His mission was to stimulate the house into meaningful discourse about important issues. He also deliberately tanked a challenge, costing the house some food or something. He thought he was very important.

Dining Hall?
 

They had these in turn-of-the-century urban areas. They were called Automats, and originally served blue collar workers hot lunches and packaged sandwiches, but also were open for cheap, waiterless dinners served from steam tables, just like a college cafeteria. They flourished through the '50s but were killed by the rise of fast food chains.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...od/4618297.htm

Personally, I think it's a great idea. Fast food chains and takeout salad bars have positively destroyed a centuries-old tradition of meeting friends for informal dining, which explains why America has none of the pub/café life that makes Europe so liveable despite its supposedly second-world economy.

Dining Hall?
 

There is, or used to be a cafeteris, in Kenmore Square in Boston. Though BU is right there, I recall it being a blue collar joint. It wasnt an all you can eat thing I don think - but did have the tray and stuff. I guess the problem would be how do you keep the proles out and limit it to the MTV demo? Perhaps it could be a membership thing? Private club?

I guess its like that old saying goes, Where there's cheap food, there are proles.

Dining Hall?
 

How is what you all are talking about different than Luby's? http://www.lubys.com/Summary.asp
This is a regional chain, but presumably there are similar chains in other areas of the country. It might interest you budding entrepreneurs that Luby's performance has been crappy.

Dining Hall?
 

That's why I suggested Wrigleyville. The population almost entirely consists of recent college graduates. Not blue collar but with blue collar incomes. And there's nowhere to park, so people from outside the area probably wouldn't visit.