d.anders

I know several "family plan" users that are paying over $400 a month. I was not exaggerating. On a seriously fixed income, why would I want to pay $60 a month for something I don't need? I suppose I could find a refurbished, older iPhone model for under $100. I have no interest in learning a new OS, or losing compatibility with my computer, if that's even relevant. I disagree with that. Because the masses are addicted. Governments and businesses didn't have much choice. Well, that list of "many things" hasn't knocked me down yet. I'm fully aware of the conveniences and the clever apps. I'm not anti-tech. In the early 90's, I was one of the first in my circle to own the Nokia 2110, and also the first to use PalmPilot. When I eventually switched my tech to the Apple iMac G3 "gumdrop," my feeling about these gadgets began to change. I no longer play Apple's game. They got enough money from me when I had money. I suppose the day will come when flip-phones will no longer be manufactured, then I will have no choice. Maybe then the iPhone will be available with pre-pay, since I absolutely do not want a monthly plan.

Thank you for that clarification. I think I only saw one ad for an SNL Anniversary event on Peacock. My Amazon Firestick had a constant ad for it, and it said, "Sunday night LIVE at 8 PM." I had no knowledge of there being two shows. Since I have Peacock, I'll look for the other show. I recently spoke to a friend who said the same thing. I did not know my friend was a life-long fan. He never mentioned her.

The question isn't necessarily about "answering" a ringing phone, it's about returning or acknowledging a customer's contact. At least that's how I see it. I find it hard to believe that anyone would expect a busy massage therapist, a doctor, a hairdresser, or a nail salon technician to readily be available to take calls while they are working on customers. However, I do have to laugh when I read about guys here who go to the HE types and complain they were on their cell phones during the service. Millions of Americans do not have $400 for an emergency, probably because they are paying $400 a month for their smartphone bill, and they are addicted. They complain about $7 eggs but cannot give up their phone addiction. My days of caring about modernity are gone, except when it comes to my health care. I recently had a stand-up MRI, and I was thrilled by the ease of service. I ended my Cable TV service during Covid, and I thought that would surely be the end for me. It wasn't. Apart from my age and my health concerns, I've never been happier. My flip-phone service only costs me $100 a year. Considering I rarely use it, or remember to turn it on, I still think I'm overpaying for a cell phone. LOL.

I'll own the shame. However, that song, Heaven is a Place on Earth, is way too pop-y for me, and the music video is terrible. She looks like she's trying to scratch a genital itch against a wall, and her voice sounds nothing in comparison to how she sounded last night, singing that haunting ballad with acoustic guitar and gorgeous violins.

I thought the show was supposed to go live at 8pm on Sunday (yesterday), so I was surprised that on Peacock, at 7:50 pm, it was there, and the fast-forward worked. Jimmy Fallon kept saying it was Valentine's Day, and that was the 14th, so I was a bit confused. Discovering that fast-forward worked was a godsend. Several of the musical acts were not my thing, and the show is 3 hours.

I don't mean to be rude, but this is the worst concept I've read on this thread. It's also extremely false and misguided. Communicating with a potential new customer is often the best way to build a relationship. It may be the only chance you get. Compatibility is at the very core of building relationships. In any service business, but especially the more intimate ones, building a relationship should be a primary goal. The very best customer is the one who wishes to return for the service over and over again. It takes time to build relationships. There are data analysts who specialize in determining how long it takes to accomplish solid goals in business. Only a fool, or an uneducated business person, would call that time "wasted." Not every customer will be golden. Not every catch will become your favorite. Not every text, phone call, or email will produce a paying client. If your goal is to make money in a service business, then you need to study the fundamentals of business, and not take wacky advice from strangers on the internet.

I had a friend tell me no one cares about SNL anymore. He said comedy is dead. Cancelled. Jimmy Fallon kept making reference during the show to the "four people" watching on Peacock. I happened to be one of the four. I haven't watched SNL in years, but I thought this might be fun. Sadly, I didn't know most of the musical guests, and rock'n'roll isn't really my thing. I thought there might be more comedy, but the only thing that made me laugh out loud was the sketch with Will Farrell and Ana Gasteyer, playing music teachers. Very funny. I wasn't familiar with Belinda Carlisle, but she totally impressed. Not sure what to say about Cher. The shocked faces on the crowd were quite interesting to observe. I guess it's true, Meryl Streep and Martin Short are a thing? Did anyone else watch?

Sadly, I spent too many years in a NYC corporate environment, playing the dutiful team player and faking my teamsmanship all the way. After decades of this self-inflicted torture, exercised by me to simply make wealthy people wealthier, I can no longer bite my tongue or clench my sphincter tightly, holding back the vile dysentery that comes from an asshole idea, or just an asshole being an asshole. But I do enjoy earnest men. I have enjoyed much of the change. If one needs a smartphone in order to survive these days, then my days may be numbered, since I can't afford the $1000 phone or the monthly bill that comes with it. My days may be numbered anyway, given my age. So fuck it. LOL. I enjoy looking at other people's photos. My mother was a photographer. 99.9% of the times, when someone offers their smartphone to show me photos, they force me to stand there and wait, and wait, and wait. They can never seem to find the photos they wanted to show me, and eventually give up. No thank you. Wise words. Thank goodness there are still good guys out there. I haven't found my newest star angel yet, but I keep looking. That is why I am here. I enjoy the bonding aspect of good massage work. A great massage requires an exchange of energies, especially when the massage elevates to something more sensual. I adore a man who takes this work seriously. I no longer bother with the others.

The image was indeed a mirror's reflection of his naked body, and the mirror frame (or maybe the camera) cropped his body directly at his cock base. However, you saw enough of the cock base to see he wasn't wearing the typical Hollywood sock. Patrick is all over the internet talking about his "full frontal," and how he won't be watching this episode with his parents. Arnold has already expressed pride, but I'm wondering if we will hear from Maria on this. I didn't realize that Patrick was already 31. I wonder what the hell age is this character?

I'm sure he's a fine actor. It was this entire story I wasn't buying.

Saw the debut of Season 3. Patrick Schwarzenegger goes full frontal and back. Looks promising, even though I already hate his character. Lots of mystery ahead.

I do the same thing when odd stuff happens.

I always think of myself as the toughest critic, since I dislike most everything out of Hollywood. If you think this was "meh," best not to try Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. LOL.

LOL. These days, I only care if the doctor's office will take and respond to my calls. I have recently encountered with certain medical "specialists," you have to wait for that service provider to call you. So far, all of them have called me (knock on wood), but not usually within 12 hours during a business week. Sometimes it has taken 2-3 days. I'm beginning to wonder, what will happen when one of them never calls? With the extreme shortage of Primary Care Physicians in America, and the ever changing health care we get, what are younger people going to do when America's health care providers adopt the attitude of several of the providers here? Fuck the phone call and drop dead. When a provider needs service, it'll be interesting to see how he feels when the tables are turned. I admit, I've become more cynical with age. I try hard not to be a bitter, angry queen, but I see so many younger people not caring about anything. Everyone seems to think they are fabulous, and can do a sex tape and become the next Kim Kardashian. Good luck with that. I recently had to go to Bloomingdales and do a return, but I forgot where I purchased the item. In my confusion, I stopped at a counter that had a handsome gentlemen, and I asked if he could help me find where I needed to go. He looked at my item, and he said it was the floor above us, but then he said, "Let me try and see if my register will take this return." It worked. He saved me from having to go to another floor and look for that department. I was gobsmacked, and I thanked the guy profusely for his kind service. Hell, I was so elated, I wanted to offer him a BJ. Retail in NYC has gone so far south after Covid, everyone seems to act like they are doing you a favor by just being there (with their face in their phones). Rant over.

Apparently, a lot of the fraud is occurring through texting. I don't text, so I don't know what the process looks like. The number of victims seems to be staggering, which explains why my bank sent out notices. The way it was explained on YouTube was very scary. Thank God for YouTube. I learn so many helpful things there, even though I hear it has an ugly side.

Yikes. I haven't been in a hotel since before Covid. Oh yes, the corporate way. I remember it like remembering the worst nightmare.

This thread demonstrates the end of the world for me. I have never been a phone person. But when I was working, I had a separate phone line for business, and when I didn't use an answering machine, I hired someone to take my calls. I get that. Materials and services cost more these days. The ends have to justify the means. Nobody works 24/7. If you are in the service business, and you don't allow time to deal with customer inquiries, how can anyone expect to attract a new customer? Ignoring customer contact, especially for new customers, does not make business sense. I do realize there are restaurants now that do not take phone reservations because they don't want to pay for the service. The restaurant business is a low-profit margin business, so I can almost accept that, given what it costs to employ someone these days. However, if that is your business model, and you're charging more than $100 for a meal, I won't be your customer. If a provider does not acknowledge my attempt at communication within 3 days, I move on. I can't take their sense of business seriously. New customers cannot be in my Contact List. You had to be a customer first before you got on the list. For many decades, I built my business from people I did not know having to call me first in order to consider hiring me. I had no choice but to sell my service to a complete stranger over the phone. Today, the internet helps with advertising, but, in certain businesses, it is no replacement for human contact. If you choose to end human contact in a service business, then you might as well say goodbye to the business. Adjust. We'll have to see about that. I'm now of the age when I no longer give a fuck. You want me to adjust, you insist I must adjust? I say go fuck yourself. (Hypothetically.) Sure, I don't need to talk to someone over the phone before hiring, but you better offer email, or I will never contact you for a hire. I don't own a smartphone. I may never own a smartphone. I can't text, period. You want to make me text in order to hire you? Not going to happen. I never hated a phone call from a prospective customer. Without the phone, I had no other way to build my business. The phone to me was equal to making a living. LOL. If anyone sounds entitled to me, it's calling a stranger "sweetheart," and a service provider who refuses to take calls. LOL. What the fuck is wrong with people's minds these days? Does it have to be that way? Is this not an example of the business being cheap or lazy? If you don't care about your business, if you are not fully committed to making money, then I suppose some of this nonsense makes sense. But, for me, the idea of creating a business, or taking time, energy, and money to build one, the goal should be, might be, wanting success. If you have no interest in success, then why bother? It's obvious to me that many guys only want to dabble at making money. Tip the toe into the water as long as it suits me and my needs just fine. The minute I have to work too hard, then fuck it. Fuck the customer. Sorry guys, for the life of me, I don't see this as a road to success. Good luck with that.

I've seen several recent YouTube videos warning people about the rise in bank scams. Thieves are using very sophisticated methods to pose as someone from your bank's fraud department. It is very difficult, especially for older people, to tell that they are being duped. They use exact language and logo material that your bank's fraud department would use. This morning, I just got an email from my bank. They are changing their rules around Zelle use due to the increased rate of scams. Apparently, part of one scam gets you to approve a wire transfer without your knowledge. A lot of people don't know that theft through wire transfer and Zelle is not bank protected. If you're not careful, thieves can easily wipe you out, and you're left holding the empty bag.

Yes, the butt looked fine. Noah clearly had no issues with getting naked on set, my kind of actor. Which begs the question, did he not consider tweaking his body just a little bit more when he found out he had to be naked? Did producers tell him "no" to keep that everyman look? Just curious. I read somewhere that he came from social media.

I've never been in a hotel room that didn't offer a 2-sided card with 2 options; do not disturb, housekeeping please. No matter what time I departed, I always left the "housekeeping please" on my door handle. Most times someone from housekeeping saw that card long before I was scheduled to check-out. I tend to be considerate when it comes to the lower level of corporate hotel staff.

It's mostly about a stolen painting from the National Gallery of the Duke of Wellington, painted by Goya. There's a lot going on in the story. It's much less a comedy and a bit more a mystery that gets solved at the very end. It's best to watch the film through to the credits, where they list some actual facts about some of the real players in the story. It's a fascinating tale.

I have departed numerous times when I offered access to housekeeping already in my room. When I handed my card key to a housekeeper, it was always put in her uniform's front pocket. I don't typically analyze housekeeper's carts, but I have helped myself to some shampoo bottles and hand towels on occasion, and never noticed key cards in the cart. As someone said, the cards are "active" until they are not. For safety sake, I'm sure each hotel has instructions for housekeeping on how to handle left key cards. I've also seen a housekeeper hand over my key card to the head housekeeper, governing my floor. I'm sure each hotel has its safety protocols, since so many people have access to your room during your stay, no matter what type of entry method you are given.

A bit late to this thread, but an interesting read. I have some experience being robbed while working during travel, but not by an escort. If you have insurance (which I did), you definitely need a police report to file a claim. IMO, that would be the only reason to get the police involved. You go to the nearest precinct and file a report. I'm sure there are other ways to describe the robbery that won't reveal the hire was for sex. You don't need to be 100% honest to the police to get a legit report. You only need the report for insurance purposes. Don't kid yourself into thinking the police are going to help you find the asshole or do anything about rectifying this matter. Don't waste your time or your money. No lawyer is going to save you here. The best thing you can do is hopefully be insured so that you can recoup the financial loss. The second best thing is tell everyone who the asshole is, which you've done. That's it. Party's over. If revenge and retaliation is your thing, then you have to track the guy down yourself and confront him, or hire someone to do that. I doubt it would be worth the time and expense.

It's on Hulu. Based on a true story that I never knew about. It's an interesting story and these two actors are wonderful together. It has a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. I enjoyed it.

These days, it's a miracle that anyone in Hollywood is going to finance a film for a 95-year-old star. June seems to be a darling. Even the NY Times praised the movie. She has wonderful chemistry with the cast, especially Richard Roundtree. At 81, he was still doing great work, and then he died. I support actors who want to work to the end of life. If you love what you do, why not?