bpm32

I’d be interested in hearing how the general mood is in Australia as well. It’s being reported here in the States that 90% of Australians over 16 are vaccinated, but as I understand it there are still a fair number of strict measures?

US states differ on minimum wage for tipped employees. For instance in Idaho, minimum wage is $7.25/hr, but tip-elegible employees only get $3.35/hr. In that case it would be very unfair not to tip. I might be off on this, but I believe the California minimum wage is $14 across the board, going up to $15 soon…..and yet tips are generally still expected. Standard minimum seems to have gone up from 10% when I was a kid, to at least 20-25%. Now that paying with card machines are the standard you often can’t complete a transaction without choosing a tip amount on a screen, or hitting several buttons to opt out of tipping, even for a cup of coffee or takeaway food. There is a large percentage of Americans in love with tipping and will defend it no matter what. I think it probably comes down to personality type.

Papo is awesome and his Behikes are pretty much my favorite cigar. No idea about websites, but a visit to his place is very much a highlight of any trip, especially if you can understand a little Spanish and hear him discuss some of the aspect about how he blends.

They should have made more Aubrey/Maturin movies like they’d planned. “Master and Commander” has slowly risen as a beloved classic over the years.

Other than airport lounge closures, Switzerland last week seemed more or less normal other than vaccination green pass checks. I don’t doubt anyone else’s experiences, but I’ve been flying domestically within the US nonstop the last year and everyone has been perfectly lovely to me, passengers and staff.

So wait, BigGuns is NOT invited then?

I have one that I picked up from Estanco de la Catedral in Barcelona a couple years ago. Can’t remember the exact price, but I think it came out to be about $400 US? I remember the girl at the register was horrified at that price when she asked another guy there. edit to add—$425.22 edit to add again—I believe they are regular production with five years on them, aren’t they? I’ve had a few and they are really good, but basically nice rested P2s, which is what they are.

So what you’re saying is a bunch of London fatcats can’t figure out how to serve the needs of people who live further afield? Then boy, have I got a life hack for you! For it to work, you will need the services of the French Navy though.....

Interesting....

It says “Product of Cuba” on it though, so English is a bit weird for evaporated milk meant for the domestic market.

Beyond the obvious reasons, some legitimate, I think there’s still special enmity amongst Americans for Cuba and Iran because of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Iran hostage affair. It’s like if your buddy’s girlfriend cheated on him and he still gets riled up about it years later. Well, the rest of you gotta hear about it.

The early part of 2015, although it feels like it’s been longer.

View from La Flauta Mágica

Either that or the new writers forgot he was dead. Wish it worked that way in real life....