It seems to me that the people who often cry "I refuse to pay taxes because I'm not represented" are the same type of people who refuse to partake in the Census. Wake UP... The Census is what gets you representation. If your state is undercounted, your state gets less representation in Congress. If your community (city, town, county etc.) is undercounted, you get less representation in the legislatures that affect you. Your communities also get less funding. It doesn't take much intelligence to see that. Does it? Why do these attributes sound like those of the Tea Party. Rebellion is not the only answer, working within the system really does work, make the system work for you.

Also done.

I responded to this subject in the Marco and Pepe thread, but my response seems more appropriate to this thread, so I'm re-posting it here.


When did 20% become a "Standard" tip? Tips of 15% reflects the current food prices which go up and down with everything else in the cost of living index. I do happen to tip 20% most of the time, but for that I expect service, including a smile, a never empty water glass, the correct food delivered at appropriate times (or a reasonable explanation of why it wasn't) and an overall demeanor that shows you want to serve me properly for the meal I'm paying for.


If I feel any of that is lacking, the tip goes down accordingly, and if it does get down to the point where I feel that a small or no tip is appropriate, I find the host, maitre' d, or manager and explain to them why the lower tip.


And having grown up in the food business, I do have some understanding of the issues regarding "back of the house" versus "front of the house," and would not shortchange a server because of a kitchen issue. I'm not going to punish a server because a steak comes out cooked wrong, or a dish is delayed (assuming a genuine explanation is given).


Just remember, a tip is a customer's way of showing gratitude for service provided. Good servers make great tips, servers who strive for mediocrity get mediocre or worse. The customer is spending their hard earned money for a meal, the server can either make or break that meal, do a good job and you will be rewarded.

Always seems to me, the people who bitch and whine the most about the administrations (both current and past) of any organization, whether it be a website, a condominium, a club, a municipality, or even the Federal Government, are the ones least likely to step up to do the job themselves.
Nothing wrong with making a statement, and perhaps even defending it, but after that, let it rest. Give credit to the guy running the place. And if you don't like the way it's being run, start to do it yourself, start your own website, run for the condo board, or for club president, or for mayor or even President, but stop being a cry baby.

Jimmy runs a one man shop, old fashioned but with total integrity.

J & G Auto Repair Center
146 Sterling Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07305

(201) 332-2049

Mark,
Any clue as to when FIOS will be installed in Port Liberte?

I prefer the separate cards for the separate systems. I use the subway every day, I only use the PATH two or three times a month. With the different fares on the two systems, plus both of their potential discounts, I found it very cumbersome to purchase amounts on a MetroCard that would work out evenly and wind up with a zero balance. Given the mag stripe on MetroCards and the propensity for them to wear out, I don't want to re-use them past the $45 fill that is the current amount that winds up getting a discount and also zeros out properly. The PATHLink is actually a better system. Tap it once, it works, and I can re-fill it online, and I know the card will last forever (or as long as PATH keeps them active). I keep the PATH card as well as my ferry and subway cards and my work ID/Security card in a plastic ID card container which is tethered to my belt, so I never have to pull out my wallet for any of those items.

The fact that I can't avail myself to that discount unless I make use of an organization I have no use for. That is what makes it prejudicial and in violation of civil rights. If the church wants to subsidize parking for its members, I have no problems. Well, except that, most likely those subsidy dollars would be coming from monies they have that were never taxed because they are a religious organization.

BTW, if a church, synagogue, mosque or other religious organization can segregate its charitable work funds from its religious operation/education/proselytizing monies, I have no problem with the charitable funds being tax free.

The BIG question is, when do we stop giving federal, state, and local tax breaks to religious organizations? I have no problems with giving them tax breaks on their charitable work, however not for their general operations and land ownership.

I'm looking to replace my hardwood flooring and carpeting. I'm looking for a good hardwood floor installer in the JC area who can handle what is mostly a simple situation with one difficult issue. I would most likely be using a pre-finished hardwood.

I'll need some of the flooring installed under a wall/desk unit which is currently sitting above the current flooring and also attached to the wall. It will be very difficult to dismantle this wall unit, so I'm hoping to find someone who can take on the job of slightly lifting the wall unit while removing the carpeting and sliding the new wood under it.

Additionally, do floor installation crews typically move furniture around as they are doing installs, or does one have to clear out the room for them prior to their working?

J & G Auto Repair Center at 146 Sterling Avenue in JC, Phone number, (201) 332-2049.

It's a one man shop, but Jimmy loves what he does. And more important, he's HONEST with you. If something is beyond his scope, he'll tell you. He talks to you like a good old fashioned doctor would, inquiring about how you drive, what your expectations are, etc before performing any service. He's been servicing my BMW now ever since the free dealer service expired (6 years now) and I've never once left feeling anything but totally satisfied.

Tell him Scott sent you.

I have a love/hate relationship with Comcast. When it's working, which is most of the time, it's LOVE. But when the billing gets screwed up, several times a year, it's HATE. But what I hate the most is the lack of HD. I just received the channel lineup in my latest bill. Only 26 HD channels, 7 of them are local over the air broadcast channels which means only 19 cable HD channels. 9 are sports and and another 4 are premiums like HBO, which means in the basic HD package I'm only receiving 6 HD channels that I might consider watching. Other systems have dozens and dozens of HD channels. I'm so eagerly awaiting FIOS, perhaps not to switchover, but hopefully to get Comcast to step up to the plate with more HD.