Ali Gator

About three years ago, my PCP installed a new device for patients to insert out credit card to pay our co-pay (my co-pay is $20). Before that, I would hand it to the receptionist when checking in, and she would run the card through on her end. Since COVID, they installed a 'glass petition' between receptionist and patient, and eventually made other changes to have 'no contact' with each other - this was the latest change. About a month ago I went for my visit, and the receptionist prompts me to insert my credit card for the $20 copay. Once I do, another screen comes up and says 'Gratuity ?' and it gives me these choices: 15%, 20% , 25% or 'custom'. I press the button below 'custom' and enter '0'. I'm not new at this. Now when I first encountered this in early 2022, when it was first installed, I questioned the receptionist - who does the tip go to ? The receptionist (for checking to see if my contact info and insurance is up to date) or the doctor - whom I haven't seen yet and can't tip on service I haven't had ? She laughed and said that the 'IT specialist' hadn't gotten around to re-programming the device since it was installed a few weeks prior, so she apologized. Fine. Here it is three years later, and the IT specialist still hasn't gotten around to deleting this prompt ??? OR, are they happy that some patients are falling for this and tipping the receptionist ? There is no doubt in my mind that patients are too embarrassed to ask about this (thinking this is the 'new normal') and pressing one of the tip amounts.

The original guy who posted in my city for Easter weekend (and then ghosted) posted yesterday and said he'd be in town through Monday. I checked today, and he's already gone. WTF ?

Though I was in the food industry in my much younger days (high school and college) and for a brief stint helping a friend 'hosting' in her restaurant she managed while I was 'between' jobs in 2012-13, I have no ties to it any longer. However, around 2013, I joined a FB group focused on restaurant servers and their daily trials and tribulations of being a server. What I have gathered over the years is this: Every single server in every single restaurant is the best server in the world. IF the customer has had a bad experience in the restaurant, it's either the cook's fault, the manager's fault, other customer's fault, or (99% of the time) YOUR fault. It's never, ever the server's fault (they accept no blame at all for your bad experience), yet most customers don't tip them 25% or more. (They have to settle for 18-20% instead, which they find insulting). Yes, 25% or more is now the standard, according to servers. And for really exceptional service (which they all believe they deliver to every customer during every shift they work) 30 - 35% should be tipped. And this goes for 'take-out' service, too ! The server who grabs the pizza from the pass-through to the counter in front of you ? Yup, 25% minimum for all they've done. I must say, it's an entertaining, yet educational, experience being on this page and seeing how the service industry sees the customers.

How the business works and the actual service provided are not necessarily exclusive of each other in any job one has in the service industry. 'The business' is dependent on 'the services provided' ; otherwise the provider will soon be out of business. It's that simple.

Just a quick update... I have not booked with him yet, because one of the travelling masseurs whom I have had my eye on for the past few months has returned to my region (he was traveling in the south all winter), and when I texted him the other day if he would be visiting my city, he said yes - he'll be doing a stop over here this coming week for a night or two. I've been waiting since December for him to return (every time he comes this way our schedules never match up) so I will see if he lives up to his plans of coming to my city in the next few days. Then I can always book my "HS friend" in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, I can't book two close together in the same week - my finances won't allow it. I will keep you updated...

That must've been one expensive Uber ride if what should have been a few minutes lasted 90 and he fell asleep in the back seat.

He's coming to RI the first week of May. Was thinking of hiring him, but thanks to this honest info in this post, I'll pass.

And it makes me wonder just how 'influential' Diddy was in making sure his protégé Bieber won those awards in such a rather short period of time ? From what I recall, Bieber really went off the radar at the of 2022 / early 2023 when he was diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome and depression (prior to that he had been diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2020). At that same time, the allegations against Diddy from young men and women started bubbling (I give talk show host Wendy Williams a lot of credit for discussing it regularly on her TV show) and finally became a legal issue in November, 2023 when his ex Ventura finally filed a lawsuit (and was paid off to drop it). A timeline of allegations against Sean 'Diddy' Combs WWW.NPR.ORG The rap mogul has been accused of sexual misconduct in a growing number of different civil suits since November 2023, dating back to the beginning of one of hip-hop's...

I think she 'always came close to winning' just like the others who lost 'came close to winning'. You would think she would be happy with what she did win at the Gramys, but then she was ignored by the CMA and her happiness was short lived. She needed to be validated by the CMA - and she wasn't. https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/music/2024/11/19/cma-awards-beyonce-post-malone-voters/

Her employees get paid to care about this, as this is their career- and they will indeed be 'finding something else to do' sooner than later, as they most likely won't be working for her any longer. Whoever did the stats and assured her she could sell-out these arenas came up short. It's better to look at these dates and see 'sold out' rather than '3,000 seats are still available' this late in the game. She's going to want answers, and heads will roll.

God knows what will come out in the trial concerning Bieber. It won't be pretty.

Sad to read this. I must say, he looks much older than 32. I wonder if that's his real age or 'industry age' ?

Bumping - anyone have anything to share ?

This guy's incredibly sexy. Has very good reviews on RB. Checks all my boxes (esp. Colombian and taller than 5' 8"). Anyone have experience to share ? MIKEE_COLOMBIA - Pornstar Performer, Rentboy, Gay Massage in Boston, MA | RentMen RENTMEN.EU Pornstar Performer & Rentboy in Boston, MA - MIKEE_COLOMBIA: 🇨🇴COLOMBIAN🇨🇴

I would hope any provider which I go to is discrete. Even a masseur at a spa or health resort - working on a client should be confidential information. The only exception I could understand in any case is when the client brings up a recommendation, such as "My friend Joe highly recommended you, so that's why I wanted to give you a try." If the masseur then passes along that info to Joe next time they see each other (probably as a 'Thank You') I wouldn't have any problem with that since I'm the one who introduced it. As for my appointment with him, I was going to try to make one for today as I have taken the day off from work (a dr appointment this morning). But the day is too beautiful to be indoors, so I need to get stuff done around the house. He does take weekend appointments, too, so I may try for Sunday. (However, a traveling masseur who I've been wanting to see for months texted today to tell me he's planning on being in my city this weekend, so....)

I didn't see much talent in that performance, either. Like I said...he would be a successful escort or masseur (one of those masseur's with zero training and education), so let's hope he thinks of that as his next move.

I know for a fact at least three masseurs (whom we have discussed / reviewed / recommended here over the years) who are in their early 50s and are knocking 20 years off their ages in their ads. '32' seems to be the magic age for these three men.

Very possible he doesn't want to offer anything more than therapeutic to 'one timers'. Now that you've seen him a few times, it sounds like he's willing to tailor your massage to what you REALLY want. Go for it.

That's what I'm missing - clarity from your post. .

What is most annoying is when they travel to my city and mark it as 'home'. It's hard to differentiate whether they actually relocated and live here now, or if they're here for a few hours and will be moving on. If they have not rooted themselves here, why not just list it as a travel city and for how long they'll be here ?

As you know, this 'hero's fall' was his own self-doing. And I'm glad that America canceled him - they should have canceled him that night and removed him from the theater and arrested right then and thereas they would have any other person who dared approach the host on stage and assault him. But the Academy wimped out and carried on that night as 'business as usual'. So be it - he's suffering the repercussions NOW.

How long did it take her to sell out her stadium shows ? Hours..... or days ? That's a true barometer of how popular she still is (ask Taylor Swift, whose concerts sold out in hours after they went on sale, and they were all stadium shows on her tour).

So you hired him a year ago (March, 2024), had the experience you describe above in the OP, warned everyone to stay away from him and......you hire him AGAIN a year later ? What am I missing ?

Granted, he's hot and sexy and has a future as a 'provider'... but talented ? ‘I am not watching anymore’: Outraged ‘American Idol’ fans blame MKY’s elimination on ‘hatred toward the Latino community’ WWW.YAHOO.COM What was meant to be a celebratory night on American Idol Sunday took a shocking turn, as some fans were outraged after MKY — a 25-year-old Mexican-American...

Usually, in a restaurant / cafe, the staff wear some kind of uniform. The owner / manager ordinarily does not - purposely, so if a customer wants to 'speak to someone in charge', they can easily spot them. The one walking around the coffee shop or the restaurant without the black polo shirt with the name of the business above the front pocket is most likely the owner / manager. And if that is the person who comes over to the table to wait on me for my visit, I will smile and ask "Are you the manager?" They respond 'yes', or 'Actually, I'm the owner.' In a hair salon, pet groomer, etc. I always ask if they're the owner or manager when I make my first appointment with them. There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking an employee to identify their title in the company you're doing business with. I used to get asked all the time when I owned my business. I didn't have uniforms for staff - it was 'casual but professional' (meaning no jeans and tees / sweatshirts, sweats, etc.) When I answered, they would almost always respond with a nice compliment ("This is my first time here - I love your store!", or "You're my favorite store!" type of responses).